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GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Maple Leafs: Habs Seek First Win of Season

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 3  CAR 4  F/SO  The Habs and Canes started the season with a high energy and high tempo game with the feel of a playoff game. The Habs were down two early in the second but they stormed back with three straight goals including Kotkaniemi’s first ever road goal. Another mistake cost the Habs the lead with less than seven minutes left in the game. Overtime was as back and forth as they come but solved nothing. The Habs failed to score in the shootout costing them a point which could come back to bite them come Spring.

For a complete game recap: Habs Grab First Point of the Season

Players to watch

  • Max Domi
    Domi was quiet for the most part against Carolina. He turned dangerous looking plays into missed opportunities. Domi needs no motivation for tonight’s game and it won’t be a shock if he ends up in the penalty box a few times tonight.
  • Jeff Petry
    Petry led all Habs in ice time against the Canes and meshed well with his new partner Ben Chiarot. Petry will be given more offensive opportunities this season as he’s the one defenseman that impacts the offense the most.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin played like a completely different player than we saw this preseason. He helped the Canadiens attack the zone with speed. He did have difficulty at the point on the power-play. If he can take another step up in his play, he will give Habs fans a lot to look forward to for the rest of the season.

Keys to Victory

  • Be disciplined
    The Habs had two bench minors last game which ultimately costed them the game. Doing that any night against any playoff caliber team is just asking for trouble. 
  • Play aggressively
    The Leafs are 2-0 and feel very comfortable. The Habs need to send them a wake-up call and get in their face and reignite one of the greatest rivalries in the NHL.
  • Maintain tempo
    The Habs played one of the fasted paced games to start a season that I’ve ever seen. The Leafs who played last night have speed but will struggle if the Habs have tempo all night long.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON | October 5, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, TVAS, SN, NHLN

2019-20 statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
4 (2nd) Points (rank) 1 (16th)
2-0-0 Record 0-0-1
1-0-0 Home/Away 0-0-1
2-0-0 Last 10 0-0-1
4.50 GF/G 3.00
2.00 GA/G 3.00
30.0 PP% 33.3
87.5 PK% 66.7
54.75  CF%  45.45
Pre-game quotes
Nick Suzuki
  • “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I grew up watching hockey Night in Canada, Leafs-Habs. It’s definitely a dream come true to be in this situation.”
  • “It’s a bit nerves, a bit excitement. I’ll try to treat it as another game, but it’s definitely going to be a special one for me.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs staff
Forwards
Kapanen – Tavares – Marner
Johnsson – Matthews – Nylander
Mikheyev –  Kerfoot – Moore
Timashov – Shore – Gauthier		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Suzuki
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Byron – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
Reilly – Ceci
Muzzin – Barrie
Sandinr – Marincin		 Mete – Weber
Chiarot – Petry
   Kulak – Fleury
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Spezza, Holl, Petan
Injured: Hyman, Dermott
 Scratched: Cousins, Folin, Reilly 
Injured: Juulsen, McCarron, Teasdale
Goalies
Michael Hutchinson Carey Price
Record: 0-0-0
GAA: – 0.00
Sv%: – .000
SO: 0
Alternate: Frederik Andersen		 Record: 0-0-1
GAA: – 2.77
Sv%: – .930
SO: 0
Alternate: Keith Kinkaid
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Habs have to stick to their strengths, they can’t go toe to toe with the Leafs big guns. They need to control the 5-on-5 play, be hard on the forecheck, keep mistakes to a minimum and allow their team depth to be the difference maker. The Leafs will love to go back and forth and will try overpower the Habs early. If the Habs stay in the game early, commit to their style they have a chance to get a much needed win against a divisional opponent.
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