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Canadiens @ Maple Leafs: Against All Odds | HABS GAME 7 PREVIEW

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview

A Look Back

The Habs love making things hard on themselves as they became the first team in NHL history to win consecutive games after blowing a multi goal lead. It wasn’t looking good for the Habs as the Leafs poured on the shots but Carey Price was spectacular once again with Jesperi Kotkaniemi scoring the overtime winner.

Last game: MTL 3  TOR 2 (OT) | Series tied 3-3

For a complete game recap: Maple Leafs @ Canadiens: Price, KK Force Game 7 | HABS GAME 6 RECAP

Players to Watch

  • Carey Price
    Price has been locked in during the playoffs and is the only reason that the Canadiens have made it to game seven. He will give his team and chance, now all they need to do is provide some goal support.
  • Josh Anderson
    Game seven is for big moments and Anderson can he that player, he’s been quiet since game one and the Habs need the effort from game one tonight in order to win.
  • Cole Caufield
    Caufield lives for the big moments and you can bet on him having the game of his life.

Keys to Victory

  • Start strong
    The Leafs claimed not to be ready for game six, I wouldn’t count on that happening again. The Habs need to come out on fire and put the doubt in the Leafs heads early.
  • Limit turnovers
    Capitalizing on turnovers has been key for the Habs. Knowing that, the Habs have to be careful as a turnover could easily cost them the game.
  • Breakout better
    With the Habs primarily playing with four defencemen, they have to be sharp. They can’t afford to get stuck in their zone or they will pay for it. Icing the puck early in a shift might even be wise instead of getting locked down for two minutes plus when a mistake is bound to happen.
Statistical Matchup for Game 7
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON | May 31, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN, TVAS, NBCSN

2020-21 Playoff statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
— Points (rank) —
3-3 Record 3-3
3-3 Home/Away 3-3
3-3 Last 10 3-3
3.00 GF/G 1.83
1.60 GA/G 2.83
14.3 (12th) PP% (rank) 11.1 (16th)
88.9 (1st) PK% (rank) 85.7 (4th)
52.12  CF% 47.88
Pre-game Quotes
Joel Edmundson
  • “Habs-Leafs in a Game 7, it doesn’t get much better than this. We’re just happy to be back in Toronto right now. We know what we have to do to get the win. We’ve worked hard the past couple of games to put ourselves in this position. We’re excited to be here and we want to finish it off.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Hyman – Matthews – Marner
Galchenyuk – Foligno – Nylander
Mikheyev – Kerfoot – Simmonds
Thornton – Engvall – Spezza		 Evans – Danault – Gallagher
Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Perry – Staal – Armia
Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Dermott – Holl
Sandin – Bogosian		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Kulak – Gustafsson
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hutchinson, Liljegren, Noesen, Nash
Injured: Tavares (concussion, knee), Muzzin
 Scratched: Frolik, Romanov, Lindgren, Tatar
Injured: Drouin (undisclosed), Lehkonen (undisclosed), Merrill (undisclosed)
Goalies
Jack Campbell Carey Price
Record: 3-3
GAA: 1.77
Sv%: .937
SO: 1
Alternate: Frederik Andersen		 Record: 3-3
GAA: 2.44
Sv%: .926
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
Winner takes all in this original six matchup for round one. With Jake Muzzin out for the Leafs, it is an opportunity for the Habs to take advantage. The Habs must make it their mission to hit the Leafs defense every time they touch the puck to create turnovers.

Bottom Line

The Leafs stars are due but the Habs have done wonders shutting them down. The credit for that goes to Carey Price. He has stolen three games in this series and will likely need to steal another for the Habs to move on.
 Video Highlights

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