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Game Day: Leafs vs. Canadiens
Lance HornbyMore from Lance Hornby
Game Day: Leafs vs. Canadiens
7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
TV: Sportsnet/HNIC RADIO: FAN 590
THE BIG MATCH-UP
RW Mitch Marner vs,. RW Brendan Gallagher
Stuck in a season-worst three game points drought, Marner needs a big game against a player of similar stature who brings a physical edge to his game with the ability to counter Marner’s creativity. Gallagher’s first career hat trick on Thursday against Philadelphia sets himself up for a big night on the national stage.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. DOWN TO BUSINESS
Two weeks ago when these rivals clashed, the hype was as much about the atmosphere in Montreal as the playoff implications of the game. In staid old Toronto, the spectators will be more window dressing as the Leafs must settle into a methodical game, avoid the kind of defensive mistakes that burned them against the Caps and try and win this one in regulation after a John Tavares goal rescued them last time.
2. HIT PARADE
Thursday’s loss to the Caps was another one off the charts where hits on the Leafs were concerned, 35-17 in Washington’s favour. The Blues also went right after Toronto at the end of its road trip. And when the Habs and Leafs last met, they were tallied at 49-16 for the home team, despite the Leafs win.
3. GALLAGHER GETS HIS DUE
The Leafs have been taking notes on No. 11, Montreal’s goal leader.
“It’s his ability to get pucks back, win pucks and make plays in traffic,” head coach Mike Babcock said of Gallagher. “He’s good along the wall and way heavier than he appears. He seems to be able to cut guys’ arms off, own lanes and be on the right side of the play.”
4. SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF
If the Habs have reason to be concerned, it’s their league-worst power play having to be on the lookout for the rabbits on Toronto’s penalty kill and how they’ll manage against the Leafs’ hot centres, who are second to the Flyers in league faceoff winning percentage.
5. PRICE CHECK
Both games this season went to overtime and nine meetings of the old combatants since 2014-15 have been decided by a goal. The last three yers have seen some dandy duels between Frederik Andersen and Carey Price in net.
MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Zach Hyman John Tavares Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson Auston Matthews Kasperi Kapanen
Patrick Marleau William Nylander Connor Brown
Par Lindholm Frederick Gauthier Tyler Ennis
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Morgan Rielly Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin Travis Dermott
Jake Gardiner Nikita Zaitsev
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
SICK BAY
C Nazem Kadri (concussion)
CANADIENS GAME DAY LINES
Jonathan Drouin Phillip Danault Brendan Gallagher
Tomas Tatar Max Domi Andrew Shaw
Paul Byron Jesperi Kotkaniemi Joel Armia
Arturri Lehkonen Nate Thompson Charles Hudon
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Victor Mete Shea Weber
Mike Reilly Jeff Petry
Brett Kulak Jordie Benn
GOALIES
Carey Price
Antti Niemi
SICK BAY
None
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Toronto 20.9% (14th)
Montreal 12.7% (31st)
PENALTY KILLING
Toronto 81.2% (11th)
Montreal 79.9% (19th)
