Game 80: Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet E/O/P, OMNI2, APTN (English), TVA Sports (French)
Streaming: CBC Gem, ESPN+, Sportsnet+
If the Canadiens were hoping that their playoff odds would improve with a result in their favour on Saturday afternoon, they quickly learned that that wouldn’t be the case for the team that represents the greatest threat. The Columbus Blue Jackets got out to a 3-0 lead in the first period versus the Washington Capitals and never looked back in a 7-0 win. Even though the New York Islanders and New York Rangers both lost to get eliminated from the playoff race, the Habs still need a regulation win to stave off the team from Ohio.
What the Canadiens should have taken from that game is the importance of a fast start, making life as easy as possible on themselves by not having to come back from a goal, or multiple goals as they have a lot recently. At least scoring first would be a big help for the team’s confidence.
It would also force the Toronto Maple Leafs to take some risks they would rather not with just five defencemen in the lineup tonight. Montreal has a chance to put some pressure on a team forced to play at reduced strength, and that’s a situation the Habs need to take advantage of.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| #13 Cole Caufield |
#14 Nick Suzuki |
#20 Juraj Slafkovský |
| #17 Josh Anderson |
#28 Christian Dvorak |
#11 Brendan Gallagher |
| #92 Patrik Laine |
#15 Alex Newhook |
#91 Oliver Kapanen |
| #55 Michael Pezzetta |
#71 Jake Evans |
#40 Joel Armia |
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| #21 Kaiden Guhle |
#48 Lane Hutson |
| #8 Mike Matheson |
#45 Alexandre Carrier |
| #47 Jayden Struble |
#58 David Savard |
| Starter |
Backup |
| #75 Jakub Dobeṧ |
#35 Samuel Montembeault |
Scratched: Joshua Roy, Arber Xhekaj
Patiently waiting: Ivan Demidov
Injured: Kirby Dach, Emil Heineman
Toronto Maple Leafs projected lineup
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| Matthew Knies |
Auston Matthews |
Mitch Marner |
| Calle Jarnkrok |
John Tavares |
William Nylander |
| Bobby McMann |
Max Domi |
Nick Robertson |
| Pontus Holmberg |
Scott Laughton |
Steven Lorentz |
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| Morgan Rielly |
Brandon Carlo |
| Simon Benoit |
Chris Tanev |
|
Philippe Myers |
| Starter |
Backup |
| Anthony Stolarz |
Joseph Woll |
