Canadiens @ Leafs - Apr. 7th, 7:30pm - SN, Fan 590

[CarltonTheBear]

@

  17-9-9, 43 points | 26-10-3, 55 points

Projected Lines

Perry-Suzuki-Anderson Drouin-Staal-Toffoli Tatar-Danault-Kotkaniemi Byron-Evans-Lehkonen Edmundson-Weber Kulak-Petry Romanov-Mete Allen ​

Hyman-Matthews-Marner Galchenyuk-Tavares-Nylander Mikheyev-Engvall-Simmonds Thornton-Kerfoot-Spezza Rielly-Brodie Muzzin-Holl Dermott-Bogosian Campbell​

Scratches

Carey Price ​

Adam Brooks Frederik Andersen​

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Taxi Squad

Michael Frolik Lukas Vejdemo Otto Leskinen       Cayden Primeau ​

Scott Sabourin Alexander Barabanov Martin Marincin Timothy Liljegren Ian Scott Veini Vehvil?inen​

Game Notes

MTL
?Allen (5-3-4, 2.23 GAA, .922 Sv%) will likely start for the Canadiens
?The Habs announced on Tuesday that Price would not be travelling to Toronto for this game. He was injured in their last game and is being evaluated further
?Montreal also lost Gallagher in that same game. He'll be out a number of weeks with a fractured thumb

TOR
?Campbell (9-0-0, 1.53 GAA, .944 Sv%) will likely start for the Leafs

Injuries

?Carey Price - Undisclosed - Out Wednesday   ?Brendan Gallagher - Hand - Injured Reserve ?Ben Chariot - Hand - Injured Reserve ?Joel Armia - Covid Protocol - Out​

?Frederik Andersen - Lower Body - Day to day​

Stream Options

BilaSport.net
Sportsurge.net
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[ZBBM]

Habs with 9 OT points.  Solid.

 

[bustaheims]

Habs with 9 OT points.  Solid.

It's actually quite impressive. 1 in 4 Habs games result in an OT/SO loss, and they're a "sparkling" 1-6 in games that don't go to a shootout. Only Dallas has more loser points - except Dallas is also losing more than half their games that don't go to OT, whereas Montreal is 15-9 in games the end in regulation.

 

[Zee]

Habs with 9 OT points.  Solid.

It's actually quite impressive. 1 in 4 Habs games result in an OT/SO loss, and they're a "sparkling" 1-6 in games that don't go to a shootout. Only Dallas has more loser points - except Dallas is also losing more than half their games that don't go to OT, whereas Montreal is 15-9 in games the end in regulation.

It's actually better than it looks for them since there's no 3 on 3 in the playoffs.  Their 5 on 5 play gets them to alot of OTs.  They may win more of those in the playoffs since it's regular hockey.

 

[bustaheims]

It's actually better than it looks for them since there's no 3 on 3 in the playoffs.  Their 5 on 5 play gets them to alot of OTs.  They may win more of those in the playoffs since it's regular hockey.

Maybe, though being in that many close/1 goal games is also not a great indicator for future success.

 

[Zee]

It's actually better than it looks for them since there's no 3 on 3 in the playoffs.  Their 5 on 5 play gets them to alot of OTs.  They may win more of those in the playoffs since it's regular hockey.

Maybe, though being in that many close/1 goal games is also not a great indicator for future success.

Yeah they don't have elite finishing talent but they're in alot of games due to good defensive play.  I still think Leafs overmatch them with our skill by a lot so I'm not worried about these losers come playoff time.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah they don't have elite finishing talent but they're in alot of games due to good defensive play.  I still think Leafs overmatch them with our skill by a lot so I'm not worried about these losers come playoff time.

My only concern is that Price gets on the type of playoff roll he's capable of. Other than that, the Leafs are strong enough at both ends of the ice to beat them.

 

[L K]

Back to a 6 point lead on 2nd place in the division, 3rd in the league in PT%, tied for 2nd in ROW and have the 4th best goal differential.

Nice to put that mid season roadbump in the rear view mirror.

 

[L K]

Probably the best thing of most games being tight finishes for Montreal is that their schedule is incredibly tight.

They have 21 games in the last 35 days of the season. 

The Leafs have 17 games in 35 days to end the year.

It doesn't really look like Montreal is going to have to fight hard to make the playoffs as Calgary and Vancouver are toast but that's a lot of hockey down the stretch.

 

[bustaheims]

Probably the best thing of most games being tight finishes for Montreal is that their schedule is incredibly tight.

They have 21 games in the last 35 days of the season. 

The Leafs have 17 games in 35 days to end the year.

It doesn't really look like Montreal is going to have to fight hard to make the playoffs as Calgary and Vancouver are toast but that's a lot of hockey down the stretch.

Also, it's not exactly a powderpuff schedule, either. No games against their favourite punching bag (Vancouver). They do get 4 against Edmonton, who they've had good results against, but will also be fighting for 3rd in the division, so those games should be tough. 5 against a tough, grinding Calgary squad that have had Montreal's number. 5 against the Leafs (including tonight) and 3 against Winnipeg, as well as a pair against an Ottawa team they've struggled with at times. Going to be a tough road for them.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Also, it's not exactly a powderpuff schedule, either. No games against their favourite punching bag (Vancouver). They do get 4 against Edmonton, who they've had good results against, but will also be fighting for 3rd in the division, so those games should be tough. 5 against a tough, grinding Calgary squad that have had Montreal's number. 5 against the Leafs (including tonight) and 3 against Winnipeg, as well as a pair against an Ottawa team they've struggled with at times. Going to be a tough road for them.

Especially if Price is out for an extended period. And they're missing their best forward.

 

[bustaheims]

Especially if Price is out for an extended period. And they're missing their best forward.

Yup. If Calgary or Vancouver finish the season strong (if Vancouver actually gets to finish their season), the Habs could be in trouble. If not, tonight could be a preview of the first round - which would be the first Leafs-Habs playoff series since 1979!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yup. If Calgary or Vancouver finish the season strong (if Vancouver actually gets to finish their season), the Habs could be in trouble. If not, tonight could be a preview of the first round - which would be the first Leafs-Habs playoff series since 1979!

Their playoff spot is still probably safe. I suspect Vancouver is going to have a tough time when (if?) they get their season going again given everything going on there.

 

[bustaheims]

Their playoff spot is still probably safe. I suspect Vancouver is going to have a tough time when (if?) they get their season going again given everything going on there.

Probably, but Calgary could make things very interesting if they get their act together. Those 5 head-to-head matchups could prove decisive.

 

[ZBBM]

Who cares?  The Canadiens are losers and they suck and they are losers.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Their playoff spot is still probably safe. I suspect Vancouver is going to have a tough time when (if?) they get their season going again given everything going on there.

Probably, but Calgary could make things very interesting if they get their act together. Those 5 head-to-head matchups could prove decisive.

Possible but so extremely improbable. Calgary has 16 games left to make up 8 points, while Montreal has 5 games in hand. That's honestly a massive mountain to climb.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Galchenyuk will not be waiver exempt after tonight's game so no more grabbing cap space with him. Unless he goes downhill, I don't see the Leafs putting him on waivers or anyone else for now. Trade deadline could change things though depending on acquired/leaving players.

 

[Zee]

Who cares?  The Canadiens are losers and they suck and they are losers.

Perfectly stated.

 

[Kaberle15]

Who cares?  The Canadiens are losers and they suck and they are losers.

I would like to add that they are Losers, that might not be as clear as people think.

Go Leafs Go!!!

 

[herman]

Cool thing is it's still quite clear the Leafs have another level or two within reach offensively if their passing connects with a bit better frequency, without personnel changes (maybe some deployment modifications).