GAME PREVIEW | Maple Leafs – Canadiens: Happy Hockey Day in Canada

By
Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens – Toronto Maple Leafs: Preview, TV,  Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 3  ANA 2  F/OT   Happy Hockey Day in Canada! Despite having a tough game. Jeff Petry played the hero in overtime skating end-to-end and firing an absolute perfect shot to win the game against the Ducks. Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher also scored for the Habs while Carey Price was back to his highlight-reel-self after missing the previous game with the flu. 

For a complete game recap: Habs Slip Past Ducks in OT

Players to watch

  • Jeff Petry
    Petry has been said to be one of the most coveted players on the trade board right now, but with the Weber injury a team is going to have to over pay dearly for Marc Bergevin to consider moving the player.
  • Nick Suzuki
    The best story for the Habs this season has been Suzuki who will only continue to get better. With the Habs playoffs chances dwindling he will be the one to watch for the Habs fans already looking forward to next season.
  • Ilya Kovalchuk
    Since joining the team Kovalchuk has been nothing but a professional. When asked about his future with Montreal, Kovy would only say, ‘we’ll see.’ Kovalchuk prefers to remain focused on making the playoffs rather discuss a future contract.

Keys to Victory

  • Play next man up
    The flu is taking the Habs (and other teams) by storm. In addition, with a key player like Shea Weber out with an injury, there have been reinforcements up from the AHL. For the Habs to make the playoffs everyone has to compete and contribute to the offence.
  • Attack the defence
    The Leafs score at will and the Habs defence will have to be ready. Petry and Chariot will definitely play big minutes once again.
  • Win special teams
    The Habs penalty-kill has sagged recently. They will have to be on top of their game against the potent power-play of the Maple Leafs. 
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | February 8, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, NHLN

2019-20 statistics
MAPLE LEAFS CANADIENS
65 (13th) Points (rank) 59 (21st)
29-19-7 Record 26-23-7
15-12-0 Away/Home 12-14-4
5-4-1 Last 10 7-3-0
3.60 GF/G 3.05
3.29 GA/G 3.05
25.7 PP% 19.9
77.1 PK% 79.2
52.59  CF%  54.21
Pre-game quote
Claude Julien

  • “They like to control the puck so part of our game that can’t change is we need to continue to be good defensively. For the most part, we’ve done a decent job. And so against a team that has a really high skill level, and they do, even more so tonight.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Johnsson – Matthews – Marner
Hyman – Tavares – Kerfoot
Clifford – Spezza – Kapanen
Engvall – Gauthier – Timashov		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Kovalchuk – Suzuki – Armia
Drouin – Domi – Lehkonen
Cousins – Thompson – Evans
Defensemen
Dermott – Barrie
Muzzin – Holl
Sandin – Liljegren		 Chiarot – Mete
Kulak – Petry
Scandella – Ouellet
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Marincin
Injured: Mikheyev, Rielly, Ceci, Andersen, Nylander
 Scratched: Folin, Weal (flu), Weise
Injured: Weber, Byron
Goalies
Jack Campbell Carey Price
Record: 9-10-2
GAA: – 2.89
Sv%: – .899
SO: 0
Alternate: Michael Hutchinson		 Record: 23-18-4
GAA: – 2.73
Sv%: – .912
SO: 3
Alternate: Charlie Lindgren
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
 A lot can happen between now and the trade deadline, the Habs have to pass a few teams to make payoffs and one of those teams is likely the Leafs. Even if the Habs chances are slim, making the Leafs chances worse with a regulation win tonight will be a win for the Habs.
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