Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs
How to watch
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In Canada: CBC, CityTV, Sportsnet, Sportsnet Now (English), TVA Sports (French)
Elsewhere: NHL.tv / Rogers NHL Live
The Canadiens are expected to run out the same lineup that put on a commanding performance versus the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Montreal is hoping to carry the success from their two wins at home to both better results on the road and a first win versus the Maple Leafs this season.
While Montreal has everyone available, the Leafs are missing their shutdown centre, Nazem Kadri, who will be out with a concussion. It means the Habs will face a bit less resistance in their offensive game, though it should still be a tight-checking contest with little room available, as the previous game turned out to be. If the Canadiens are able to use the same transition approach that demolished the Flyers two days ago, they will be able to get their chances on offence.
Closely watching the Leafs is a good strategy, but the Canadiens will have to be careful not to get into a special-teams battle with their rival. Toronto was ice cold on the man advantage when the teams faced each other two weeks ago — in fact it was Montreal that scored the only power-play goal — but the Leafs managed five goals on the power play the next week. On their current three-game losing streak, the Leafs have been held without a power-play goal yet again. Montreal’s best bet is to replicate what the St. Louis Blues did on Tuesday, and not go into the penalty box at all.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
Forwards
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| Tomas Tatar |
Phillip Danault |
Brendan Gallagher |
| Paul Byron |
Max Domi |
Andrew Shaw |
| Artturi Lehkonen |
Jesperi Kotkaniemi |
Joel Armia |
| Nicolas Deslauriers |
Nate Thompson |
Matthew Peca |
Defencemen
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| Victor Mete |
Shea Weber |
| Mikey Reilly |
Jeff Petry |
| Brett Kulak |
Jordie Benn |
Goaltenders
| Goaltenders |
| Carey Price |
| Antti Niemi |
Toronto Maple Leafs projected lineup
Forwards
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| Zach Hyman |
John Tavares |
Mitch Marner |
| Andreas Johnsson |
Auston Matthews |
Kasperi Kapanen |
| Patrick Marleau |
William Nylander |
Connor Brown |
| Par Lindholm |
Frederik Gauthier |
Tyler Ennis |
Defencemen
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| Morgan Rielly |
Ron Hainsey |
| Jake Muzzin |
Nikita Zaitsev |
| Jake Gardiner |
Travis Dermott |
Goaltenders
| Goaltenders |
| Frederik Andersen |
| Garret Sparks |
