Drop the Puck | PREVIEW: TOR @ MTL

By
Cole Jurzyniec
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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 

Season Opener

The Canadiens hit the ice for the 2022-’23 regular season opener. For the past nine years, the Habs have started the year on the road, but tonight, they host their historic rival. With home-ice advantage, the Canadiens will be looking to kick off the season with a revamped squad as some notable names look to impress and try to take down the Maple Leafs in front of a full Bell Centre.

Last game: MTL 2  OTT 3  F/OT (Exhibition Game 8)

For a complete game recap: A Wrap on the Preseason | RECAP: MTL @ OTT

Players to Watch

  • Juraj Slafkovsky
    The first overall pick of this year’s draft has had paramount pressure even during pre-season and has left many to ponder if he was the right choice. The large framed, nimble Czechia winger has plenty of time to prove his worth as he was inserted into the starting line-up in tonight’s matchup to kick off the season.
  • Kirby Dach
    Arguably, one of the more surprising moves of the draft, Alexander Romanov was dealt to the Islanders while the Canadiens ultimately acquired the 6’4 centreman for the start of the season. Dach has had a rough go in his NHL career but has amassed 59 points in 152 games. He’ll be bringing his large stature to the lineup and will be looking to prove himself after inking a four-year deal with the Canadiens.
  • Cole Caufield
    It’s no secret that Caufield is an offensive weapon, with his struggles in the 2021-22 season under Ducharme, Cole was able to find some rhythm under Martin St. Louis who now holds the head coaching title for the club. Caufield will be looking to emerge this season as a prominent player for the team.

Keys to Victory

  • Feed off the crowd
    At home, the Canadiens can draw some energy from the crowd to fuel their adrenaline as they’ll be faced with a hungry Maple Leafs squad looking to come out of the gates swinging.
  • Support the young guns
    With many newcomers, the team will have to rally together to help the new players adjust to the environment and get settled in.  With a long 82 games ahead, chemistry and teamwork will be keys to success down the road.
  • Play smart D-zone hockey
    The Canadiens should be no stranger to Maple Leafs style hockey, using their knowledge from the past and shutting down the top lineups and utilizing newly acquired size to take players of the puck will be ways of taking the first game of the season.
Statistical Matchup for Game 1
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | October 12, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN, TVAS, ESPN+

2022-23  statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
0 (–) Points (rank) 0 (–)
0-0-0 Record 0-0-0
— Streak —
0-0-0 Last 10 0-0-0
0.00 (–) GF/G (rank) 0.00 (–)
0.00 (–) GA/G (rank) 0.00 (–)
00.0 (–) PP% (rank) 00.0 (–)
00.0 (–) PK%  (rank) 00.0 (–)
00.0  Faceoff % 00.0
Pre-game Quotes
Kaiden Guhle

  • “I’m at my best and the dream I cherished as a child is coming true. It’s still a big challenge for us tonight, but I’m excited. [..] This is why I have worked since I have been in the hockey world. I have a chance to do well and it will be interesting.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Bunting – Matthews – Marner
Nylander – Tavares – Malgin
Engvall – Kerfoot – Jarnkrok
Aston-Reese – Kampf – Aube-Kubel		 Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
Monahan – Dach – Hoffman
Slafkovsky – Dvorak – Gallagher
Pitlick – Evans – Dadonov
Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Giordano – Sandin		 Guhle – Savard
Harris – Kovacevic
Xhekaj – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Dahlstrom, Liljegren, Benn,		 Scratched: Pezzetta, Drouin
Injured: Mailloux (shoulder), Matheson (lower-body), Armia (upper-body), Edmundson (back), Heineman (finger),  Byron (hip), Price (knee)
Goalies
Matt Murray Jake Allen
Record: 0-0-0
GAA: 0.00
Sv%: .000
SO: 0
Alternate: Ilya Samsonov		 Record: 0-0-0
GAA: 0.00
Sv%: .000
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
With all the new faces in town, eight of those added to the team will see ice in the home-opener, it’s expected to be a shaky performance, however with home-ice advantage, you cannot count out the Canadiens who could easily take down the heavily favored Leafs in this exciting matchup.

Bottom Line

There are assumptions that the Canadiens will do poorly this season as it was openly mentioned that there’s a primary focus on development, but that’s no excuse to put on a poor performance.  There’s a lot of new faces in town who will be looking to prove themselves which should translate into fantastic, watchable hockey.
 Video Highlights

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