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Canadiens @ Maple Leafs: Looking For A Better Effort | HABS 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

Game Preview

A Look Back

Two quick goals by the Leafs sunk the Habs early as they weren’t ready to start. No time out was taken by Habs interim head coach Dom Ducharme and the Leafs proceeded to control the game. It was a questionable decision by the coach as he let a rookie goalie take the hit for not having his team ready.

Last game: MTL 2  TOR 5

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs: Overwhelmed

Players to Watch

  • Josh Anderson
    Anderson had four hits and three shots last game but didn’t provide the spark that Brendan Gallagher usually does. Josh is not Gally but he needs to step up in his absence.
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    With Phillip Danault exiting last game early, KK got more ice time. Hopefully Kotkaniemi will get the opportunity to prove himself as a true top six forward.
  • Jon Merrill
    Merill had a tough game against the Leafs and likely his worst game for the Habs. Hopefully he has a response tonight.

Keys to Victory

  • Score first
    It was another game where the Habs didn’t score first and learned just how hard it is to play from behind.
  • Be physical
    It was an embarrassing loss and the Habs showed little to no heart. While the Habs outhit the Leafs by a large margin the hits weren’t doing much and the Habs chase d the puck a majority of the game.
  • Make adjustments
    The playoffs are around the corner and if the Habs can’t make any mid-game adjustments they won’t have a chance. This will decide if the coaching staff is up to the test.
Statistical Matchup
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON | May 8, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS

2020-21 statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
74 (7th) Points (rank) 57 (18th)
34-13-6 Record 24-20-9
17-7-3 Home/Away 11-9-7
6-2-2 Last 10 5-5-0
3.36 GF/G 2.83
2.60 GA/G 2.91
20.6 (15th) PP% (rank) 20.0 (17th)
77.2 (26th) PK% (rank) 78.9 (19th)
50.88  CF% 54.57
Pre-game Quotes
Corey Perry
  • “We’re fighting for a playoff spot. To make the playoffs is a tough thing in this League. Half the teams go home and half the teams continue to battle it out until there’s one left. That’s kind of been my career, just ramping it up at the right time and being ready for the playoff run.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Thornton – Matthews – Marner
Galchenyuk – Tavares – Nylander
Mikheyev – Kerfoot – Engvall
Spezza – Brooks – Simmonds		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Armia
Tatar – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Perry – Staal – Caufield
Lehkonen – Evans – Belzile
Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Hutton – Dermott		 Kulak – Chiarot
Edmundson – Petry
Romanov – Merrill
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Sandin, Hutchinson, Liljegren, Noesen
Injured: Andersen, Nash, Hyman, Bogosian, Foligno
 Scratched: Gustafsson, Frolik
Injured: Gallagher (hand), Price (concussion), Byron (lower-body), Drouin (undisclosed), Danault (concussion), Weber (upper-body)
Goalies
Jack Campbell Jake Allen
Record: 16-2-2
GAA: 2.11
Sv%: .924
SO: 2
Alternate: David Rittich		 Record: 11-11-4
GAA: 2.62
Sv%: .909
SO: 0
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
Tonight’s game should be much better for the Habs. They have to answer for two terrible games in a row but will have the benefit of not playing a rested team this time around. The issue is the Leafs are only missing two depth players in their lineup and have an all the time confidence right now.

Bottom Line

The Habs need to treat this like a playoff game or send a message to the Leafs that they aren’t going to have fun in round one.
 Video Highlights
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