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Canadiens @ Maple Leafs: Primed to Clinch | 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

After building momentum from comeback wins, the Habs were lost in their final game against Ottawa. The Senators outworked the Habs from the start and it wasn’t until late in the game that the Habs showed a slight response. Jake Allen struggled in this game. His workload has been a lot higher than originally planned but that is not to blame for his lack of rebound control.

Last game: MTL 1  OTT 5

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Senators: Flat From the Start

Players to Watch

  • Josh Anderson
    Anderson made comments to the media two weeks ago and backed them up for one game. Consistency is key in the NHL and the Habs need him to step up.
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    KK should be well rested as he played the least out of any player last night. Either he is banged up or the coaching staff are making a mistake by playing Eric Staal and Michael Frolik more than him.
  • Alexander Romanov
    Romanov has shown some growing pains the last few weeks but it’s to he expected. The condensed schedule in his first NHL season has to be hard on him but he knows he can better.

Keys to Victory

  • Score first
    The Habs learned the hard way what happens when you don’t score first. Habs need to play with a lead as teams will fade against them once they get out front.
  • Skate hard
    Getting out skilled can happen but being out worked should never happen and that’s what happened last night. If the Habs don’t skate hard tonight it will be a long night.
  • Up the compete level
    The league had some fireworks last night and it was big part of teams showing they won’t go down without a fight. The Habs don’t need to fight to show that but need to show something. 
Statistical Matchup
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON | May 6, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, TSN4, RDS

2020-21 statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
72 (8th) Points (rank) 57 (16th)
33-13-6 Record 24-19-9
16-7-3 Home/Away 11-8-7
5-2-3 Last 10 5-5-0
3.33 GF/G 2.85
2.62 GA/G 2.87
21.1 (13th) PP% (rank) 20.4 (16th)
76.7 (27th) PK% (rank) 78.4 (22nd)
50.75  CF% 54.80
Pre-game Quotes
No morning skate
  • Coming off a loss on Wednesday night, interim head coach Dom Ducharme elected to skip a morning skate on Thursday.
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Thornton – Matthews – Marner
Galchenyuk – Tavares – Nylander
Mikheyev – Kerfoot – Noesen
Engvall – Spezza – Simmonds		 Anderson – Danault – Caufield
Toffoli – Suzuki – Armia
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Evans
Frolik – Staal – Perry
Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Sandin – Dermott		 Kulak – Chiarot
Edmundson – Petry
Romanov – Merrill
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hutton, Hutchinson, Brooks, Liljegren
Injured: Andersen, Nash, Hyman, Bogosian, Foligno
 Scratched: Gustafsson
Injured: Gallagher (hand), Price (concussion), Byron (lower-body), Drouin (undisclosed), Tatar (lower-body), Weber (upper-body)
Goalies
Jack Campbell Jake Allen
Record: 15-2-2
GAA: 2.12
Sv%: .925
SO: 2
Alternate: David Rittich		 Record: 11-11-4
GAA: 2.65
Sv%: .908
SO: 0
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
Back to back games haven’t been kind to the Habs and it’s not surprise they play a rested Leafs team. The Habs do have something to prove after last night and the Leafs will try to get back after losing last game.

Bottom Line

Tonight’s game should have some bad blood created before a likely first round matchup.
 Video Highlights

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