Two words: Bragging Rights
Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs will finish ahead of the Montreal Canadiens, but after tonight they are essentially both on the same page, done for the season and will await the results of Tuesday’s Draft Lottery.
What does remain is pride for Habs fans. A regulation win tonight, and the Canadiens can take the season series against Toronto with a 3-2-1 record, the Leafs, and their fans, looking from there end would be 3-3. It would be a small victory for the Habs, in a season that has been a SNAFU from day one.
The ones to watch in the Blue and White are ex-Hab Mikhail Grabovski, who has 10 percent of his season point total (50) against the Canadiens, and captain Dion Phaneuf. Despite the calls to run him out of town by many Toronto fans and media, Phaneuf too has five points against Montreal.
Grabovski is questionable, along with goalie Jonas Gustavsson for tonight’s game. Both have lower body injuries.
MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Max Pacioretty – David Desharnais – Erik Cole
Rene Bourque – Tomas Plekanec – Louis Leblanc
Blake Geoffrion – Lars Eller – Mike Blunden
Brad Staubitz – Gabriel Dumont – Aaron Palushaj
Defensemen
Andrei Markov – Frederic St-Denis
Goalies
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Matt Frattin – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel
Clarke MacArthur -Mikhail Grabovsk – Matthew Lombardi
Tim Connolly – David Steckel – Joey Crabb
Jay Rosehill – Colby Armstrong – Mike Brown
Defencemen
Dion Phaneuf – Mike Komisarek
John-Michael Liles – Luke Schenn
Goalies
Jonas Gustavsson
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens coverage
Leafs coverage from Pension Plan Puppets
