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Maple Leafs @ Canadiens: New Forward Lines | 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

The Habs put up a tough fight against the trap game of the Flames, got a late lead then  didn’t give up a shot for over the last five minutes of the game. It was not fun to watch, it wasn’t pretty hockey but it was a win. Habs rookie Cole Caufield played his first NHL game.

Last game: MTL 2  CGY 1

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Flames: Hard Fought Win

Players to Watch

  • Cole Caufield
    With some injuries to the top six Caufield has found a new line with Suzuki and Toffoli, it will be interesting to see the usage of the line but this should be a heavy offensive line for the Habs. .
  • Jake Evans
    Since the acquisition of Eric Staal, Dom Ducharme has, more often than not, made Evans a healthy scratch. But Evans made an immediate impact against Calgary on Saturday night and played a strong game on in the series finale against the Flames.
  • Josh Anderson
    After providing a spark for his team a a few games back Anderson has been quiet and has had no shots on goal in his last three games. Habs will need him to step up once again and find that spark on a nightly basis.

Keys to Victory

  • Be prepared
    The Habs have to be ready for a fast pace game after fighting the trap for three games. The Leafs are a speed team and attack in waves, if the Habs arent on their toes early they could be in trouble.
  • Agitate the Leafs
    The Leafs pushed the Jets around last game proving they aren’t to be messed with, that said the Habs have to find away to get under their skin, taking their focus off of the game.
  • Win special teams
    The power-play for both teams have struggled for awhile now. While the Habs lack high end skill players that can dominate power plays the Leafs have a few of those, so the Habs can’t afford to give them any chances.
Statistical Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | April 28, 8:00 PM ET | TV: SN, RDS

2020-21 statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
65 (9th) Points (rank) 51 (17th)
30-13-5 Record 21-17-9
16-6-2 Away/Home 10-10-2
5-3-2 Last 10 4-6-0
3.29 GF/G 2.87
2.71 GA/G 2.83
21.5 (10th) PP% (rank) 19.4 (21st)
76.6 (26th) PK% (rank) 77.3 (24th)
50.69  CF% 54.57
Pre-game Quotes
Jake Evans
  • “[Eric Staal] talks a lot on the bench. I think we’re developing some some nice chemistry. He’s such an amazing player; he’s played in this League for a while and he just knows where to be. He’s so strong on the puck and really good on faceoffs, too, so he’s an easy guy to play with.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Foligno – Matthews – Marner
Galchenyuk – Tavares – Nylander
Mikheyev – Kerfoot – Simmonds
Thornton – Brooks – Spezza		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Lehkonen – Danault – Anderson
Perry – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Frolik – Staal – Evans
Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Sandin – Dermott		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Merrill – Romanov
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Sabourin, Marincin, Robertson,   Engvall
Injured: Andersen, Nash, Hyman, Bogosian
 Scratched: Kulak, Gustafsson
Injured: Gallagher (hand), Price (concussion), Byron (lower-body), Drouin (undisclosed), Tatar (lower-body)
Goalies
Jack Campbell Jake Allen
Record: 13-2-1
GAA: 2.21
Sv%: .922
SO: 2
Alternate: David Rittich		 Record: 9-9-4
GAA: 2.50
Sv%: .913
SO: 0
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
With only nine games left in the regular season, seven of those games will come against the Leafs, Jets and Oilers who are each in a playoff spot. The Habs have a good chance  of making the playoffs but need to use these upcoming games to build a game plan for a potential playoff matchup.

Bottom Line

That being said the players need to take it one game at a time and will play a rested Leafs team looking to clinch first in the division.
 Video Highlights

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