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Edit: Shaw suspended 3 preseason games & Habs vs Sens Game Preview |
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The Montreal Canadiens will play their third game of the preseason as they get ready to face the Ottawa Senators Thursday night at the Bell Centre. The tempo of the game should be much closer to a NHL level as both teams will put out lineups with much more experience compared to the initial preseason matches.
The Canadiens lineup will look like:
While the Senators will dress:
It will be the preseason debut for Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec as they returned from the World Cup of Hockey earlier in the week. While I am sure that Pacioretty is disappointed with Team USA not advancing in the competition, his earlier than expected arrival will give him plenty of time to regain his chemistry on the top line with Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher. The domino effect of that is now Artturi Lehkonen will attempt to earn a spot on the second line playing alongside Tomas Plekanec. Sven Andrighetto takes Alexander Radulov’s spot on that line tonight as the latter is under the weather. If Lehkonen is to make the team, he needs to build off of his good initial start from Monday night’s game and hope that he and Plekanec will compliment each other.
Andrew Shaw has been suspended for 3 preseason games as the NHL Department of Player Safety rendered their decision this afternoon for his late hit on Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals. The hit was late and unnecessary. 3 preseason games pretty well equal 1 regular season game and so I have no issue with the length of the suspension. Charles Hudon will take his place on the 3rd line. It could be a big opportunity for Hudon to make sure that management does not lose sight of him as he gets to play with David Desharnais and Daniel Carr. Interestingly, Michael McCarron replaces Jacob De La Rose on the fourth line tonight with Terry and Farnham.
Canadiens fans are likely most looking forward to 2016 first round draft pick Mikhail Sergachev making his debut. Somewhat surprisingly, he will be paired with Mark Barberio and not Jeff Petry tonight. He has been hyped up to the max and so far has lived up to it through the development and rookie camps. In Sportsnet’s OHL Coach’s Poll, Sergachev received some impressive votes, the hype is real:
Best overall player:
1 Dylan Strome 25%
T-2 Travis Konecny 15% T-2 Mikhail Sergachev
T-4 Lawson Crouse 10% Matthew Tkachuk
T-6 Anthony Cirelli 5% Mitch Marner Michael McLeod Blake Speers Mitchell Stephens
Best bodychecker:
1 Lawson Crouse 20%
T-2 Cameron Lizotte 10% T-2 Mikhail Sergachev T-2 Givani Smith
T-5 Jeremiah Addison 5%
Best defenceman:
1 Mikhail Sergachev 60%
2 Mitchell Vande Sompel 15%
T-3 Jakob Chychrun 10% Vili Saarijarvi
5 Olli Juolevi 5%
Puck drops tonight at 7:30pm.
Will you be watching the Habs or Team Canada?
Cheers & follow along!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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