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Canadiens @ Maple Leafs: Habs Face Elimination | GAME 5 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 effort simply wasn’t there as the Habs once again fell behind in the second period. While you can blame the referees, the Habs simply can’t score. What’s worse is how defeated the Habs look on the bench. They have an elite goalie keeping them in games they don’t belong in and can’t even generate a high-danger scoring opportunity. On top of that, there has been no fight at all.

Last game: MTL 0  TOR 4 | Leafs lead series 3-1

For a complete game recap: Maple Leafs @ Canadiens: Habs Offence Gone Dry | GAME 4 RECAP

Players to Watch

  • Tyler Toffoli
    The guy that lead the Habs in scoring has yet to score in the series and if he can’t perform like the regular season the Habs won’t make it to a game six.
  • Josh Anderson
    Invisible since game one, Anderson’s name has barely been mentioned. He has the potential to change a game but hasn’t been given much of opportunity. He has to take it upon himself to make an impact every shift and make the Leafs know he’s coming for them every shift.
  • Shea Weber
    If the Habs have any chance at all of winning they need someone from the backend to produce and who better the their captain. Weber didn’t have the best season by any means but if he can start a comeback for the ages no ones going to care about the past.

Keys to Victory

  • Play desperation hockey
    The Habs have to do anything it takes to win tonight. That means hitting everything that moves, starting fights, bumping the Leafs goaltender and not sitting back ever.
  • Put the puck in the net
    It’s as simple as that, the Habs need to start scoring. Not only will it boost their confidence that has to be at an all time low, it will make the Leafs second guess themselves as they have not been tested nearly enough on defence.
  • Control the game
    The Habs haven’t controlled the game at any point in the series and that has to change. It’s time to take it to the Leafs, shoot from everywhere, crash the net and knock the Leafs off their game and start making them chase the play.
Statistical Matchup for Game 5
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON | May 27, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN, TVAS, NBCSN

2020-21 Playoff statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
— Points (rank) —
3-1 Record 1-3
3-1 Home/Away 1-3
3-1 Last 10 1-3
3.00 GF/G 1.00
1.00 GA/G 3.00
18.8 (8th) PP% (rank) 0.0 (16th)
100.0 (1st) PK% (rank) 81.2 (9th)
52.35  CF% 47.65
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme
  • “We know what to expect. We know what we need to do. [The veteran] guys aren’t the only ones who need to step up. They definitely have an impact on our team with their actions and their words, but we’re going to need everybody. It’s that simple.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Hyman – Matthews – Marner
Galchenyuk – Foligno – Nylander
Mikheyev – Engvall – Kerfoot
Thornton – Spezza – Simmonds		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Armia – Staal – Perry
Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Sandin – Bogosian		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Gustafsson – Merrill
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hutchinson, Liljegren, Noesen,  Dermott, Nash
Injured: Tavares (concussion, knee)
 Scratched: Kulak, Frolik, Romanov, Lindgren
Injured: Evans (undisclosed), Drouin (undisclosed), Lehkonen (undisclosed)
Goalies
Jack Campbell Carey Price
Record: 3-1
GAA: 1.01
Sv%: .965
SO: 1
Alternate: Frederik Andersen		 Record: 1-3
GAA: 2.59
Sv%: .920
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The Habs have given the Leafs too much respect and the Leafs have ran with it. The Canadiens will be a desperate team and if not, it will be a quick night. Several players promised chaos in the series and nothing has happened. There has been no bad blood and no will to win from the Habs. Its likely too late but if the Habs can do that tonight and take it one game at a time, perhaps comeback to fans at the Bell Centre and feed of that they could just maybe force a game seven.

Bottom Line

This has to be the most desperate and hard-hitting game for the Habs they’ve ever played and it’s time the Habs go after certain Leafs players. By no means should they be out to hurt players but if they are going to lose they have to leave the Leafs with more than a few bruises.
 Video Highlights

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