GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 3 CAR 4 F/SO The Habs and Canes started the season with a high energy and high tempo game with the feel of a playoff game. The Habs were down two early in the second but they stormed back with three straight goals including Kotkaniemi’s first ever road goal. Another mistake cost the Habs the lead with less than seven minutes left in the game. Overtime was as back and forth as they come but solved nothing. The Habs failed to score in the shootout costing them a point which could come back to bite them come Spring.

For a complete game recap: Habs Grab First Point of the Season

Players to watch

Max Domi
Domi was quiet for the most part against Carolina. He turned dangerous looking plays into missed opportunities. Domi needs no motivation for tonight’s game and it won’t be a shock if he ends up in the penalty box a few times tonight.
Jeff Petry
Petry led all Habs in ice time against the Canes and meshed well with his new partner Ben Chiarot. Petry will be given more offensive opportunities this season as he’s the one defenseman that impacts the offense the most.
Jonathan Drouin
Drouin played like a completely different player than we saw this preseason. He helped the Canadiens attack the zone with speed. He did have difficulty at the point on the power-play. If he can take another step up in his play, he will give Habs fans a lot to look forward to for the rest of the season.

Keys to Victory

Be disciplined
The Habs had two bench minors last game which ultimately costed them the game. Doing that any night against any playoff caliber team is just asking for trouble.
Play aggressively
The Leafs are 2-0 and feel very comfortable. The Habs need to send them a wake-up call and get in their face and reignite one of the greatest rivalries in the NHL.
Maintain tempo
The Habs played one of the fasted paced games to start a season that I’ve ever seen. The Leafs who played last night have speed but will struggle if the Habs have tempo all night long.

Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON \| October 5, 7:00 PM ET \| TV: CBC, TVAS, SN, NHLN
	2019-20 statistics
MAPLE LEAFS	2019-20 statistics	CANADIENS
4 (2nd)	Points (rank)	1 (16th)
2-0-0	Record	0-0-1
1-0-0	Home/Away	0-0-1
2-0-0	Last 10	0-0-1
4.50	GF/G	3.00
2.00	GA/G	3.00
30.0	PP%	33.3
87.5	PK%	66.7
54.75	CF%	45.45

Pre-game quotes
Nick Suzuki “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I grew up watching hockey Night in Canada, Leafs-Habs. It’s definitely a dream come true to be in this situation.” “It’s a bit nerves, a bit excitement. I’ll try to treat it as another game, but it’s definitely going to be a special one for me.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs staff
Forwards
Kapanen – Tavares – Marner Johnsson – Matthews – Nylander Mikheyev – Kerfoot – Moore Timashov – Shore – Gauthier	Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Lehkonen – Domi – Suzuki Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia Byron – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
Reilly – Ceci Muzzin – Barrie Sandinr – Marincin	Mete – Weber Chiarot – Petry Kulak – Fleury
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Spezza, Holl, Petan Injured: Hyman, Dermott	Scratched: Cousins, Folin, Reilly Injured: Juulsen, McCarron, Teasdale
Goalies
Michael Hutchinson	Carey Price

Record: 0-0-0 GAA: – 0.00 Sv%: – .000 SO: 0 Alternate: Frederik Andersen	Record: 0-0-1 GAA: – 2.77 Sv%: – .930 SO: 0 Alternate: Keith Kinkaid

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

The Habs have to stick to their strengths, they can’t go toe to toe with the Leafs big guns. They need to control the 5-on-5 play, be hard on the forecheck, keep mistakes to a minimum and allow their team depth to be the difference maker. The Leafs will love to go back and forth and will try overpower the Habs early. If the Habs stay in the game early, commit to their style they have a chance to get a much needed win against a divisional opponent.

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GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

2019-20 statistics