Montreal Canadiens Game Preview: Allez Montréal! The Time is Now
By Omar L
After back-to-back loses, the Montreal Canadiens hope to get back in the win column tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks.
It’s a new week in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens. Hopefully they had their full engaging in Thanksgiving festivities, because they have a game to win Tuesday night. Not just any game, it’s the team’s home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The odds could be in Montreal’s favour already. Chicago is in the second half of a back-to-back after playing the Toronto Maple Leafs the night before. However Joel Quenneville made the smart move in saving Corey Crawford for this one. Not only is the goaltender a hometown boy, but he may give Chicago the best chance in a night where the legs may not be there.
Claude Julien made only minor changes to the line-up. Torrey Mitchell and Brandon Davidson are both staying in after having a solid regular season debut. Additionally, Ales Hemsky is making his return to action leaving Jacob de La Rose to sit out for this one.
Keys to the Game
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Best thing for the Habs to do is to have a similar start to their game in New York on Sunday. That intensity and pressure early in the game will have the Blackhawks on their heels, and they have to make sure it doesn’t stop.
Besides having a great start, the Habs also need to start putting up some goals. Both called back goals on Sunday were similar in that a point shot made it to a crowded net and was eventually put in. Even though they didn’t count, but Max Pacioretty‘s should have, the Montreal Canadiens have the right idea in trying different ways to score. The power play is another area that needs to start producing. Keeping the defending players guessing with speed is effective to an extent, but they need to start getting more shots through.
With Carey Price in net, you’ll always have a chance to win. The team has to do a better job covering players in their own zone and clearing the front of the net. If Price will stop it if he sees it and even if he doesn’t see it, he’s shown the ability to make those ungodly saves. However, he can’t make them all the time so lightening his load will be crucial.
It should be a good show tonight, and the Habs have no reason not to give it their all. Perhaps watching the 2016-2017 Atlantic Division banner will spark a flame throughout the team.
How do you think the game will go? Let us know what you think down below.