Game 48: Habs @ Leafs - Apr. 27, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[CarltonTheBear]

@

28-14-5, 61 points | 26-16-5, 57 points

Projected Lines

Ryder-Plekanec-Gionta Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gallagher Bourque-Eller-Galchenyuk Armstrong-Halpern-Prust Gorges-Diaz Markov-Subban Boullion-Tinordi Price​

Lupul-Kadri-Kessel JVR-Grabokvsi-MacArthur Komarov-Colborne-Kulemin Orr-McClement-McLaren Gunnarsson-Phaneuf Fraser-Franson Liles-Kostka Reimer​

Line-up Notes

MTL
?Carey Price is the likely starter for Montreal

TOR
?James Reimer is the likely starter for Toronto
?Projected lines are from Friday's practice. Carlyle has said that he won't reveal any line-up information prior to the game

Statistical Leaders

Ryder - 16 Subban - 27 Pacioretty - 39 Galchenyuk - +12 Prust - 110 Price - 21 Budaj - 2.42 Budaj - .906​

G A P +/- PIM W GAA SA%​

19 - Kessel          32 - Kessel 51 - Kessel +19 - Fraser 155 - Orr 19 - Reimer 2.38 - Reimer .926 - Reimer

Season Overview

MTL 28 14 5 61 145 125 21.3% 79.5% 14-7-2 Won 1 4-6-0​

W L OT P GF GA PP% PK% Away | Home Streak L10​

TOR 26 16 5 57 144 129 18.9% 87.4% 13-8-2 Won 1 6-3-1

Injuries

MTL
Alexei Emelin - Knee - Out for season

TOR
Tyler Bozak - Unknown - Questionable Saturday

Hot or Not

MTL
Lars Eller - 3 pts in last 2 GP
Max Pacioretty - 7 pts in last 6 GP
Alex Galchenyuk - 4 pts in last 5 GP
Michael Ryder - 1 pt in last 6 GP
Brian Gionta - 0 pts in last 3 GP
Carey Price - 2-5-0, 4.38, .851 in last 7 GPI

TOR
Phil Kessel - 8 pts in last 4 GP
Cody Franson - 4 pts in last 4 GP
Joffrey Lupul - 4 pts in last 4 GP
James Reimer - 2-1-0, 1.68, .954 in last 3 GPI
Nikolai Kulemin - 1 pt in last 6 GP
Mikhail Grabovski - 1 pt in last 10 GP

Stream Options

http://www.ourleafs.blogspot.ca/
http://www.firstrow1.eu/sport/ice-hockey.html
http://atdee.net/index.html
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockeynightincanada/video/live/
​

 

[louisstamos]

 

[drummond]

I want to see this

 

[cw]

The chart on this link summarized the stakes tonight nicely
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto.html

Chances that Leafs face a given opponent based upon how many points the Leafs get tonight in their game against Montreal:

Mtl           
Game        Boston        Montreal    Washington
2 pts              14%            86%
1 pt                59%            41%
0 pts              37%            38%              25%

This season, Montreal swept the Rangers, split with Ottawa and the only difference between them and the Islanders was a shootout loss to the Islanders. Against the Leafs, the Habs won one and lost three. In other words, the Habs would probably prefer any of the other possible teams over the Leafs.

As the Habs have the edge in the tiebreaker with Boston, they have a 59% chance of winning the division to get second seed if they win and only 12% of winning the division if they lose.

So there's a fair amount at stake in this game for the Habs as well. It'll probably be like a playoff game.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

The chart on this link summarized the stakes tonight nicely
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto.html

Chances that Leafs face a given opponent based upon how many points the Leafs get tonight in their game against Montreal:

Mtl           
Game        Boston        Montreal    Washington
2 pts              14%            86%
1 pt                59%            41%
0 pts              37%            38%              25%

This season, Montreal swept the Rangers, split with Ottawa and the only difference between them and the Islanders was a shootout loss to the Islanders. Against the Leafs, the Habs won one and lost three. In other words, the Habs would probably prefer any of the other possible teams over the Leafs.

As the Habs have the edge in the tiebreaker with Boston, they have a 59% chance of winning the division to get second seed if they win and only 12% of winning the division if they lose.

So there's a fair amount at stake in this game for the Habs as well. It'll probably be like a playoff game.

Somebody step up with a Boyd Devereaux hat-trick tonight, please.

 

[L K]

The chart on this link summarized the stakes tonight nicely
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto.html

Chances that Leafs face a given opponent based upon how many points the Leafs get tonight in their game against Montreal:

Mtl           
Game        Boston        Montreal    Washington
2 pts              14%            86%
1 pt                59%            41%
0 pts              37%            38%              25%

This season, Montreal swept the Rangers, split with Ottawa and the only difference between them and the Islanders was a shootout loss to the Islanders. Against the Leafs, the Habs won one and lost three. In other words, the Habs would probably prefer any of the other possible teams over the Leafs.

As the Habs have the edge in the tiebreaker with Boston, they have a 59% chance of winning the division to get second seed if they win and only 12% of winning the division if they lose.

So there's a fair amount at stake in this game for the Habs as well. It'll probably be like a playoff game.

Somebody step up with a Boyd Devereaux hat-trick tonight, please.

This will be a really interesting game to watch.  Will the two teams come out hard against each other to set a playoff tone, or are they going to back off to make sure there is some rest heading into the postseason.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

The chart on this link summarized the stakes tonight nicely
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto.html

Chances that Leafs face a given opponent based upon how many points the Leafs get tonight in their game against Montreal:

Mtl           
Game        Boston        Montreal    Washington
2 pts              14%            86%
1 pt                59%            41%
0 pts              37%            38%              25%

This season, Montreal swept the Rangers, split with Ottawa and the only difference between them and the Islanders was a shootout loss to the Islanders. Against the Leafs, the Habs won one and lost three. In other words, the Habs would probably prefer any of the other possible teams over the Leafs.

As the Habs have the edge in the tiebreaker with Boston, they have a 59% chance of winning the division to get second seed if they win and only 12% of winning the division if they lose.

So there's a fair amount at stake in this game for the Habs as well. It'll probably be like a playoff game.

Somebody step up with a Boyd Devereaux hat-trick tonight, please.

This will be a really interesting game to watch.  Will the two teams come out hard against each other to set a playoff tone, or are they going to back off to make sure there is some rest heading into the postseason.

I can see both teams motivated to win and going for it.  But if either team gets a significant lead, does everybody back off their effort and play it safe?  Throw in the back-up if down by 3 or more?

 

[Redleaf]

Still no Bozak? That's a little concerning considering how close we are to the playoffs. The Leafs can't afford to lose their top line centre for any duration of time. His loss may strengthen the first line (with Kadri inserted down the middle) but weakens the second and third lines. I don't know how others feel about this but I'd consider him a substantial loss to this team at this late point in the season.

 

[Kaberle15]

Lets lock up the 5th place boys!

Go Leafs Go!!!

 

[TML fan]

Maybe Carlyle benched him until he cuts his hair

 

[cw]

The chart on this link summarized the stakes tonight nicely
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto.html

Chances that Leafs face a given opponent based upon how many points the Leafs get tonight in their game against Montreal:

Mtl           
Game        Boston        Montreal    Washington
2 pts              14%            86%
1 pt                59%            41%
0 pts              37%            38%              25%

This season, Montreal swept the Rangers, split with Ottawa and the only difference between them and the Islanders was a shootout loss to the Islanders. Against the Leafs, the Habs won one and lost three. In other words, the Habs would probably prefer any of the other possible teams over the Leafs.

As the Habs have the edge in the tiebreaker with Boston, they have a 59% chance of winning the division to get second seed if they win and only 12% of winning the division if they lose.

So there's a fair amount at stake in this game for the Habs as well. It'll probably be like a playoff game.

Somebody step up with a Boyd Devereaux hat-trick tonight, please.

This will be a really interesting game to watch.  Will the two teams come out hard against each other to set a playoff tone, or are they going to back off to make sure there is some rest heading into the postseason.

I can see both teams motivated to win and going for it.  But if either team gets a significant lead, does everybody back off their effort and play it safe?  Throw in the back-up if down by 3 or more?

Leafs won the first one 2-1. After that, Leafs won 6-0 & 5-1 and Montreal won 5-2. A blowout is always possible in big games because teams that fall behind, under pressure, tend to risk opening up or take chances sooner to get back into it. A three goal lead probably results in resting the regulars. It's not a do or die situation.

 

[leafplasma]

Maybe Carlyle benched him until he cuts his hair

Hence, what is being called another upper body injury.  Putting strain on his neck.

 

[lamajama]

The chart on this link summarized the stakes tonight nicely
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto.html

Chances that Leafs face a given opponent based upon how many points the Leafs get tonight in their game against Montreal:

Mtl           
Game        Boston        Montreal    Washington
2 pts              14%            86%
1 pt                59%            41%
0 pts              37%            38%              25%

This season, Montreal swept the Rangers, split with Ottawa and the only difference between them and the Islanders was a shootout loss to the Islanders. Against the Leafs, the Habs won one and lost three. In other words, the Habs would probably prefer any of the other possible teams over the Leafs.

As the Habs have the edge in the tiebreaker with Boston, they have a 59% chance of winning the division to get second seed if they win and only 12% of winning the division if they lose.

So there's a fair amount at stake in this game for the Habs as well. It'll probably be like a playoff game.

Somebody step up with a Boyd Devereaux hat-trick tonight, please.

You do remember that that event essentially screwed the Leafs right?

 

[bustaheims]

You do remember that that event essentially screwed the Leafs right?

Did it? Right now, it looks like it lead to the Leafs drafting the better player.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

The chart on this link summarized the stakes tonight nicely
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Toronto.html

Chances that Leafs face a given opponent based upon how many points the Leafs get tonight in their game against Montreal:

Mtl           
Game        Boston        Montreal    Washington
2 pts              14%            86%
1 pt                59%            41%
0 pts              37%            38%              25%

This season, Montreal swept the Rangers, split with Ottawa and the only difference between them and the Islanders was a shootout loss to the Islanders. Against the Leafs, the Habs won one and lost three. In other words, the Habs would probably prefer any of the other possible teams over the Leafs.

As the Habs have the edge in the tiebreaker with Boston, they have a 59% chance of winning the division to get second seed if they win and only 12% of winning the division if they lose.

So there's a fair amount at stake in this game for the Habs as well. It'll probably be like a playoff game.

Somebody step up with a Boyd Devereaux hat-trick tonight, please.

You do remember that that event essentially screwed the Leafs right?

Out of a higher draft position, of course.  It may well have helped the team in the long run, getting Kadri over Schenn.  Either way, somebody stepping up big time tonight should likely help the team this season.

 

[Derk]

I will be watching this game with great interest. I would love to see a Leafs-Habs first round series. The excitement would be off the charts, and regardless of the regular season series, I would expect it to be a tight 7-game series that could go either way.

 

[Bullfrog]

Agreed Derk. I want the Leafs/habs matchup because I think it'd be awesome to watch, not necessarily because i want to avoid Boston or Washington.

 

[Redleaf]

Agreed Derk. I want the Leafs/habs matchup because I think it'd be awesome to watch, not necessarily because i want to avoid Boston or Washington.

I'm cheering for the Bruins tonight and tomorrow, in the hopes we can avoid a matchup with them. As for a close series between the Habs and Leafs, I agree it will be closer than we expect. I'm guessing it would go 6 or 7 games. If we face the Bruins, I'm guessing we awake the giant, and it goes 5 or 6 games. So, to summarize my thoughts, Leafs need the win tonight, and so do the Bruins!!! GLG!

 

[Capn_Crunch]

You do remember that that event essentially screwed the Leafs right?

Did it? Right now, it looks like it lead to the Leafs drafting the better player.

Thank you.  I'll take Naz over Schenn anyday of the week hands down.
I hope they come out with a balls to the wall attitude and give the fans a sneak preview of the first round.

GO LEAFS GO!!!

 

[oakl0008]

I wonder why Carlyle is being mum on exactly when Bozak got his apparent "upper body injury"? He only said something about him being injured in the past week, even when asked if it was during the Tampa game. I know that Carlyle isn't known for being forthcoming, but something seems strange. Bozak also isn't known for being the brightest bulb on the tree judging from past action. Of course, he is a hockey player so nobody's perfect. Hope there's no dissension and hope that Kessel keeps having Leaf success because he is awesome. But hey, it wouldn't be the Leafs if there wasn't any drama.  8)