Bell Centre Showdown: Montreal Canadiens Face Off Against New York Islanders

As the Montreal Canadiens gear up to host the New York Islanders at the iconic Bell Centre, fans are eager to see how their team will fare in this matchup. The Canadiens have shown a mixed bag of results in their recent games, which could make for an unpredictable and thrilling game.

In their last three outings, the Habs have experienced both highs and lows. They secured a win against the Buffalo Sabres but suffered narrow defeats to both Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators. Despite these setbacks, there are positive signs in their play that fans can look forward to seeing more of.

The Canadiens' performance at even strength has been commendable; they've consistently outshot their opponents and maintained a faceoff win percentage above fifty percent across two of the three games. However, they've struggled on special teams with powerplay opportunities not being capitalized on as effectively as one might hope.

Goaltending remains a strong point for Montreal with save percentages hovering around ninety percent recently – a crucial factor that could tip the scales in favor of the home team if they continue this trend.

The Bell Centre is known for its electrifying atmosphere which often acts as an additional player for the home side. With passionate fans backing them every step of the way, it's expected that Montreal will leverage this advantage to put pressure on New York from puck drop.

As we approach game day, it's clear that while there are areas needing improvement – particularly in converting powerplay chances – there is enough evidence from past performances to suggest that Montreal has what it takes to challenge any opponent on home ice.

Fans can catch all the action live from Bell Centre on December 17th through MSGSN2 or ESPN+ networks. The puck drops at midnight UTC time (7 PM Eastern Time), promising an exciting evening of NHL hockey right before holiday festivities kick into full gear.