PREVIEW GAME #50 – Canadiens @ Pittsburgh (Jan.22/2014)

Preview Game #50

Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh

CONSOLEngeryCenter – Jan. 22 2014 – 7:00 pm

 

Game Notes –

….The Penguins had a team record 13 game home winning streak ended at 13 games Monday in a 5-1 loss to Florida.

…..Pittsburgh leads the Eastern Conference with home victories -20 and home points – 70.

……The Canadiens are  0-3-1 in the last four meetings tin Pittsburgh and 2-6-1 in the past nine.

…….Montreal has alternated wins and losses in its last eight games, and it’s won two in a row once in its previous 18.

……. Against the Penguins, Price is 9-8-2 with a 2.86 GAA and a .911 save percentage.

……. Carey Price has given up 11 goals in his last three starts while posting a  1-2-0 record.

……Price has posted a 4.21 goals-against average in his last four road games despite going 2-1-1.

……. Price is 9-8-2 with a 2.86 goals against average in 20 career games against the Pens..

……. In his NHL career vs. Montreal,  Marc-Andre Fleury is 15-9-2 with a 3.19 GAA and a.893 save percentage .  …….Fleury has a 3.55 GAA in his last five starts. He’s given up seven goals in his past two starts against the Canadiens.

…….  In 23 games against the Canadiens, Evgeni Malkin has 11 goals and 18 assists.

…… Pacioretty has five goals and three assists in his last seven against the Penguins.

……..Both Alexei Emelin and Raphael Diaz will be healthy scratches for the game.  The Canadiens third defense pairing will be Douglas Murray and Francis Bouillon.  Nathan Beaulieu will play with Josh Gorges and P.K. Subban will start the game with Andrei Markov for the first time in 13 games.

Probable Pittsburgh Line Combinations

Game Statistics –

Season Records  – Canadiens (27-17-5)  Third in Atlantic Division.   Pittsburgh (34-13-2)  First in Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.

Last Ten Games – Canadiens (4-4-2)  Pittsburgh (7-2-1)

Season Series – Second of three games.   @Bell Centre Nov. 23 Canadiens-3 Pittsburgh-2.  Max Pacioretty – 2 goals.  James Neal – 2 goals for Pittsburgh

Last Time Out –  Canadiens: Lost to Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3.  Penguins: Lost to Florida Panthers 5-1.
 Home/Road – Canadiens on the Road (13-9-2)   Pittsburgh at Home – (20-4-0)

Goaltending – Canadiens – Carey Price 39GP (22-13-4)  2.30GAA .924save%      Pittsburgh-Marc-Andre Fleury- 40GP (27-11-1) 2.33GAA   .915save%.

Who’s Hot – Canadiens – Max Pacioretty has points in four straight games and five of the last six.   Tomas Plekanec has six points including three goals last eight games.  Pittsburgh – Matti Niskanen has 12 points his last 14 games – 6 goals 7 assists.

From The Clinic – Canadiens – C-Ryan White (IR-shoulder);  LW Alex Galchenyuk (IR-broken hand); D-Davis Drewiske (IR-shoulder surgery).  Pittsburgh – G-Tomas Vokoun (IR-blood clot hip); FWD_Andrew Ebbrett (IR-broken andle); FWD-Beau Bennett (IR-wrist surgery); FWD-Chris Connor (IR-hand surgery); FWD-Pascal Dupuis (IR-knee surgery); FWD-Brian Gibbons (IR-lower body); FWD-Joe Vitale (IR-wrist sprain).

Montreal		Pittsburgh
2.51	Goals Per Game		3.12
2.39	Goals Against Per Game		2.45
28.55	Shots on Goal Per Game		30.73
29.94	Shots Against Per Game		27.73
11.1	Penalty Minutes Per Game		10.33
33	Power Play Goals		39
19.6%	Power Play %		24.2%
23	Power Play Goals Allowed		18
85.6%	Penalty Kill %		87.9%
6	Shorthanded Goals		2
2	Shorthanded Goals Allowed		3