Montreal Canadiens vs. Vegas Golden Knights Game 6 Preview
The Montreal Canadiens are one win away from the Stanley Cup final. I repeat, the Montreal Canadiens are one win away from the Stanley Cup final. After their best game of the playoffs, the Habs have a chance to close out the series against the Golden Knights in Game 6 on home ice. The city will be abuzz as Game 6 also falls on St-Jean-Baptiste day in Quebec. It may turn out to be the perfect storm.
Game 5 was an all-around team effort from the Canadiens and something they can build off of with a 3-2 series lead heading into tonight’s game. Carey Price was phenomenal in goal, the Big-4 defence of the Canadiens played a heavy bruising game and the kids accounted for three of the four Montreal goals.
The Golden Knights showed flashes of dominance in Game 5, but were unable to break through the neutral zone trap set by the Canadiens. The Knights have been very sneaky with the utilization of their faceoff plays and have generated some high-danger scoring chances with them. Montreal will need to make some adjustments on their defensive zone draws ahead of tonight’s contest.
The Canadiens will be without head coach Dominique Ducharme once again, but Luke Richardson has filled in seamlessly and coached the Canadiens to near perfection in Game 5.
Expect the Knights to come out strong as they will be playing with desperation to try and force a Game 7.
Player To Watch: Brendan Gallagher
Big games are for big game players and for that look no further than Brendan Gallagher. The Canadiens’ heartbeat hasn’t been his normal self offensively, posting four points in 16 games, but he has led his team into the fight each and every night. Gallagher’s subpar numbers are most likely related to his hand not being fully healed, but the forward has found other ways to make his presence felt whether it be scrumming in front of the net or getting the other team’s best players off their game.
If the Canadiens need a spark in Game 6, look for Gallagher to provide it. #11 has proved time and time again that he will do anything it takes for his team to win, so expect nothing less tonight in a game where Gallagher can advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in his career.
Take a look back at Game 7 against the Leafs, the Canadiens were looking to get on the board and it was none other than Gallagher who delivered.
Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup:
Lehkonen-Danault-Gallagher
Toffoli-Suzuki-Caufield
Byron-Kotkaniemi-Anderson
Armia-Staal-Perry
Chiarot-Weber
Edmundson-Petry
Merrill-Gustafsson
Price
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
Carey Price
2020-2021 Playoff Stats: 16 GP, 11-5-0, 2.02 GAA, 0.933 SV %
Price has been lights out thus far in the series and will need an all-word performance in Game 6.
Marc-Andre Fleury
2020-2021 Playoff Stats: 16 GP, 9-7-0, 2.04 GAA, 0.918 SV%
Fleury has been shaky in his four outings versus the Canadiens this series, but will have a chance to redeem himself in an elimination game in his home province of Quebec.
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The game is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet, USA Network, and TVA Sports.