Clash at Bell Centre: Montreal Canadiens Host Tampa Bay Lightning
As the Montreal Canadiens prepare to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Bell Centre, fans are bracing for what could be a defining moment in their season. The Canadiens have had a rocky road recently, and their upcoming game on November 8th is an opportunity to turn things around.
Looking back at their last game on November 5th against the St. Louis Blues, it's clear that there are areas where MTL needs to improve. Despite scoring three goals, they allowed six against them and ended up with a -21 plus-minus rating. Their powerplay managed to convert once out of four opportunities, but with only a nine percent shooting percentage overall, it's evident that they need more precision in front of the net.
The Habs' goaltending also left something to be desired; saving only 29 out of 34 shots for an unimpressive save percentage of about 83 percent does not bode well when facing a team like TB. However, one positive takeaway was their tenacity in takeaways and blocked shots – showing that they're not afraid to get physical when necessary.
In contrast, TB comes into this game with confidence. They've been consistent performers and will undoubtedly challenge MTL's defense and goaltending. The Canadiens must tighten up their play if they want any chance of overcoming the Lightning.
MTL fans should look for improvements in faceoff win percentages which stood at about 49 percent during their last outing – winning possession off draws can be crucial in setting up plays or clearing pucks from dangerous areas.
The Habs' recent performance on November 3rd against Arizona Coyotes showed some promise despite another loss; they dominated faceoffs with a win percentage over 63 percent and were strong on special teams play as well – converting one out of five powerplays while maintaining solid penalty killing.
However, consistency is key for MTL as evidenced by their October 31st overtime shootout loss against Vegas Golden Knights where despite putting up two goals and having better control over faceoffs (60 percent), they couldn't clinch victory even after pushing into overtime.
For die-hard Canadiens supporters looking ahead to this matchup at Bell Centre: expect your team to come out fighting hard but also keep an eye on how effectively they can capitalize on scoring chances while shoring up defensive responsibilities especially during man-advantage situations which could make all the difference between victory or defeat.
The puck drops at midnight UTC (8 PM Eastern Time) on November 8th in Montreal’s iconic venue. Fans won’t want to miss this battle between these two formidable opponents which can be watched live nationally via ESPN+ or locally through BSSUN channel number 653.