Canadiens vs Devils: Game preview
Tonight the NHL is spicing things up with a unique schedule. Instead of the typical scenario where about 90% of the games kick off at 7:00 PM Eastern they’ve decided to stagger the game start times by at least 15 minutes. This results in a cascading schedule of NHL action that involves all 32 teams. The action gets underway at 6:00 PM and culminates with the 16th and final game starting at 11:00 PM.
In this lineup Montreal finds itself as the fifth team to hit the ice. They’re back home and set to face off against the New Jersey Devils. This particular match marks Montreal’s third game in just four days following a rather relaxed start to the season with several breaks in the opening week and a half. In these early games the Canadiens have managed to secure two wins and they’re now aiming to pull off a clean sweep.
However it’s worth noting that fatigue may become a significant factor especially when facing the Devils who haven’t played a game since Friday. The Canadiens will need to dig deep into their reserves to stay competitive in this matchup.
| Canadiens | Statistics | Devils |
| 3-1-1 | Record | 2-1-1 |
| 51.0% (13th) | Scoring-chances-for % | 60.6% (1st) |
| 3.20 (13th) | Goals per game | 3.75 (8th) |
| 3.00 (14th) | Goals against per game | 3.50 (22nd) |
| 15.0% (21st) | PP% | 42.0% (1st) |
| 79.3% (15th) | PK% | 70.6% (26th) |
| 1-2-0 | Head-to-Head Record (22-23) | 2-1-0 |
Start time: 7:15 PM EDT / 4:15 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English) RDS (French)
In the Devils region: MSGSN2
Streaming: RDS TSN
New Jersey has truly shown their prowess in the first couple of weeks of this season. They’ve been one of the top teams in terms of possession consistently launching an average of 34 shots on goal per game. Even more impressive is their ability to create three scoring chances for every two they allow at five-on-five play. However where they’ve been most devastating is on the power play where they’re currently tied for the league’s top spot. Despite only playing four games they’ve managed to score nine goals while on the man advantage which accounts for a whopping 60% of their total offensive output.
The Canadiens got a taste of New Jersey’s power play abilities during a preseason game when the Devils came to town and went three-for-four on the man advantage securing a 4-2 victory. While both teams have seen changes since that September night it’s a testament to how effective New Jersey’s power-play tactics are and how dangerous Jack Hughes can be no matter who he’s paired with on the ice. Hughes who tallied three points in that game is a constant threat.
Tonight it’s imperative for the Canadiens to maintain discipline if they want a shot at success. While they managed to survive against the offensively struggling Washington Capitals and held the Buffalo Sabres to just one goal in five short-handed opportunities the Devils won’t be as forgiving. Hughes and Jesper Bratt have been power-play dynamos each racking up seven points and they must be eager to take on the Canadiens.
After Jake Allen played a crucial role in Montreal’s recent victories it’s now up to Samuel Montembeault to stand tall against the Devils. He’s one of the few Habs players entering this game without the fatigue of back-to-back matches but the demanding game will likely take its toll. This is also likely to be Joel Armia’s first game since returning to the Habs after starting the year in the AHL. He’ll be eager to prove his place on the NHL roster and has the potential to make a significant impact on the game.
In their previous game in Buffalo the Canadiens faced some familiar defensive challenges struggling to contain their opponents in the defensive zone. While they did a better job of keeping the Sabres to the outside they still had issues with their net-front assignments. The forwards also seemed caught between blocking passing lanes and attacking puck-carriers leading to prolonged shifts in their own zone. The Devils possess too much firepower for such scenarios and it’s another test for St-Louis and his coaching staff to devise a strategy to prevent these draining shifts from happening.
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