Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs: Game thread, rosters, lines, and how to watch

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

How to watch

Start time: 7:30 PM EST / 4:30 PM PST
In Canada: Sportsnet (English)
In the Canadiens region: RDS (French)
Streaming: NHL.tv/NHL Live, RDS Direct, Sportsnet Now

After another relatively long stretch of rest in what has been a hectic start for many NHL teams, the Canadiens’ schedule resumes with a game versus the Maple Leafs. The match pits the two teams that are beginning to separate from the North Division pack against one another. The Habs can’t take over the points lead tonight, but they can set up that showdown on Saturday should they come away victorious tonight.

Carey Price and Frederik Andersen are tasked with shutting down potent offences on both sides. At least the hope is that the Canadiens’ offence will be back to its early-season form after the Ottawa Senators did a surprisingly good job of neutralizing it in a two-game series. It’s unlikely we see Toronto use the same trapping style, however, so Montreal’s offence should flow a bit more freely.

Montreal will need to do some shutting down of its own to have the greatest chance of getting the win. The Maple Leafs have one of the league’s most lethal power plays, and have been relying on it for many of their goals so far. First and foremost, the plan should be to avoid unnecessary penalties on the Habs’ part, but the penalty kill needs to come up big when it is inevitably called upon, with perhaps a signature short-handed goal or two to help the cause.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Scratched: Paul Byron, Victor Mete

Toronto Maple Leafs projected lineup