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Maple Leafs @ Canadiens: Steep Challenge | 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

It was a questionable decision by Dom Ducharme to challenge a Winnipeg goal for  goaltender interference when it was obvious that the call was never going to go the Habs way. Once again, poor defensive play sunk the Habs and a late goal after that was too much. It was demoralizing for the Habs who are in a three-game slide.

Last game: MTL 0  WPG 5  F

For a complete game recap: Jets @ Canadiens: Habs Humiliated at Home

Players to Watch

  • Tyler Toffoli
    The Habs need their best players to get going and that means Toffoli needs to find the back of the net again, who hasn’t scored in five games and is one way from 20.
  • Tomas Tatar
    Tatar has always been an excellent finisher yet this season he hasn’t even reached 10 goals. The Habs need more from him as has reached the 20 goal mark almost every season, 15 goals this shortened season should be expected but may be out of the question this late into the season.
  • Brett Kulak
    Kulak played some of his best hockey in the bubble with Jeff Petry but Dom Ducharme has shaken up the pairs as Joel Edmundson was struggling on the top-pairing. As a mobile defenceman, Kulak should be a good fit with Shea Weber.

Keys to Victory

  • Use speed
    The Habs need to come out flying, during the slump the Habs have looked like the slower team often getting out worked. Its the main part of the slump and they can’t let that continue tonight.
  • Play physical
    If the Habs want any chance of making a difference in the playoffs and getting out of the slump the Habs power play has to start clicking.
  • Win special teams
    The Habs can’t go down without a fight and can’t afford to get in a scoring race against the Leafs. Setting the tone earlier with several big hits should get the Habs involved early and set the tone for the rest of the game.
Statistical Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | April 12, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+

2020-21 statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
59 (2nd) Points (rank) 43 (18th)
28-10-3 Record 17-12-9
14-4-1 Away/Home 8-8-2
9-0-1 Last 10 4-4-2
3.37 GF/G 3.08
2.56 GA/G 2.76
23.3 (10th) PP% (rank) 20.0 (17th)
78.0 (20th) PK% (rank) 76.4 (24th)
50.51  CF% 55.59
Pre-game Quotes
Tomas Tatar
  • “We hit a little bump. I think good teams find a way to dig themselves out as fast as possible. It’s our time to do that. Every team is going through struggles during the season and we can probably say this is ours. We just have to get better and do what we’re good at. I see a lot of potential in our team. We made some great additions during the offseason and that created a lot of depth, so different guys can step in at different times of the season. We’re in a solid spot, we’re in a playoff spot, so we just have to get back in it and peak at the right time.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Galchenyuk – Matthews – Marner
Mikheyev – Tavares – Hyman
Thornton – Kerfoot – Spezza
Robertson – Engvall – Simmonds		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Evans
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Tatar – Danault – Byron
Lehkonen – Staal – Perry
Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Dermott – Bogosian		 Kulak – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Romanov – Ouellet
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Vehvilainen, Brooks, Rittich
Injured: Andersen, Nylander, Foligno, Noesen, Nash
 Scratched: Armia, Frolik
Injured: Chiarot (hand), Gallagher (hand), Price (lower-body), Merrill (COVID protocol), Gustafsson (COVID protocol)
Goalies
Jack Campbell Jake Allen
Record: 11-0-0
GAA: 1.88
Sv%: .934
SO: 2
Alternate: Michael Hutchinson		 Record: 5-6-4
GAA: 2.53
Sv%: .912
SO: 0
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
The Habs have already made two pre-deadline moves bringing in Eric Staal and Jon Merrill. Merrill will serve a seven day quarantine once he arrives in Montreal. It’s time for all the players to step up and make an impact. The Leafs confidence couldn’t be better, winning six in a row and have a new hot goalie.

Bottom Line

The Habs have to find away to outwork the Leafs and knock them off their game.
 Video Highlights

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