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Stay Competitive | PREVIEW: MTL @ TOR

Sam Gerber
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Stay Competitive | PREVIEW: MTL @ TOR

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 an exciting and wild game as the Habs put a show for their fans and brought the Bell Centre to life for one of the few times this season. Joel Armia scored a hat-trick on only three shots on net while Nick Suzuki broke his career high in points.

Last game: MTL 6  WSH 2  F

For a complete game recap: Armia Hat Trick | RECAP: WSH @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Brendan Gallagher
    Gallagher is officially back to the old Gallagher that fans fell in love with. Four injury plagued seasons in a row would end a lot of players careers but not Gallagher. It shows just how much determination he has and how willing he is to lead this team.
  • Mike Matheson
    It was another productive night for Matheson with three assists. Matheson may never be elite talent but he is becoming a good all-around player and one of the leaders on the back end.
  • Jake Evans
    Another player who has dealt with injuries for multiple seasons is Jake Evans. Many believed Evans would have a breakout season but due to injuries it wasn’t meant to be which means there is plenty left in store for Evans next season.

Keys to Victory

  • Find a focus
    The Leafs are a powerhouse team with talent on every line and should easily control the play. The Habs have to remain focused and not force plays, keeping focused will be key as the Leafs will be looking to take advantage of any mistakes.
  • Clear the zone
    A good way to keep the Leafs off the scoreboard will be to control the zone time. If the Habs can keep moving the puck and force the Leafs to play in their own end the Habs will be able to have a fighting chance at getting a win.
  • Play with passion
    An original six game on Saturday night against one of Habs biggest and long time rivals is all the motivation a Habs player should need to play their best tonight. If a player isn’t going tonight for the Habs it’s a clear sign their heart isn’t in it and they don’t have the passion that Habs fans want in their players.
Statistical Matchup for Game 80
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON | April 8, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, CITY, TVAS ESPN+

2022-23  statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
103 (6th) Points (rank) 68 (27th)
46-21-11 Record 31-42-6
OT1 Streak W1
5-3-2 Last 10 4-6-0
3.36 (9th) GF/G (rank) 2.79 (26th)
2.73 (9th) GA/G (rank) 3.66 (29th)
25.0 (4th) PP% (rank) 16.7 (28th)
81.0 (12th) PK% (rank) 73.1 (28th)
53.2  Faceoff % 48.6
Pre-game 
Brendan Gallagher

  • “We know it’s going to be a fun atmosphere to play in and hopefully we enjoy it. We only have so many games together so there’s no excuse not to have a good effort. It should be fun.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Bunting – Matthews – Marner
Tavares – O’Reilly – Nylander
Kerfoot – Acciari – Simmonds
Aston-Reese – Kampf  – Lafferty		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Armia
Gurianov – Drouin – Gallagher
Pitlick – Evans – Hoffman
Pezzetta – Tierney – Ylonen
Defensemen
McCabe – Holl
Giordano – Liljegren
Gustafsson – Schenn		 Matheson – Barron
Edmundson – Wideman
Schueneman – Kovacevic
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Benn, Timmins, Rielly, Brodie
Injured: Muzzin, Robertson, Jarnkrok, Dahlstron,		 Scratched: Farrell
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Xhekaj (upper-body), Dvorak (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body), Anderson (lower-body), Dach (upper-body), Savard (lower-body), Belzile (lower-body), Harris (lower-body), Allen (lower-body)
Goalies
Ilya Samsonov Sam Montembeault
Record: 25-10-5
GAA: 2.40
Sv%: .916
SO: 4
Alternate: Matt Murray		 Record: 16-16-3
GAA: 3.26
Sv%: .906
SO: 0
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
The Leafs will be using this game to start preparing for what they hope is a long playoff run. Multiple first round exits including one against the Habs will always be the topic of discussion around the Leafs until they are successful in round one. The Leafs are hoping for a tight checking game where they can work on several things, the Habs shouldn’t do the Leafs any favors and should keep it light and fun but still do everything they can to give the Leafs a loss tonight.

Bottom Line

The game means almost nothing but don’t say that to long time fans that always love seeing the Habs beat the Leafs.
 Video Highlights

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