Pre-Game Talk: Leafs @ Habs: Wednesday 7:30pm

[CanadasTeam]

LFG!

 

[AvroArrow]

Huge game, should be playoff intensity. Montreal is the only team in our division that I see as a real threat. Well balanced, really good D and then Price. The boys need to show up on time. Not sure what to expect after the mini-series vs Vancouver. Played well the first 2 games and then the final 10 in the 3rd game, but it's not really a good measuring stick. Should be fun, hoping for a competitive game.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Montreal had a good record against other Canadian teams last year. I think they improved their team since last year. Matchups are important.

You’re right. They improved from last year as well on paper

 

[X66]

PETAN MY BOY, make the most of that PP time.

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

We should be well rested. We only played for 11 seconds last game to get the win.

 

[zeke]

Does Montreal's record prove that last season was a fluke for them? Or that this division is a bit of a joke? Or both?

The Habs were an elite even strength team last year (#1 cf%, #2 xgf%), and are elite there again so far this year (#3 cf%, #1 xgf%).

But last year they were a poor shooting % team and a poor save % team - neither was too surprising, given their lack of elite shooting talent, given Price's steady decline, and given their lack of backup goaltending. This also carried over into their special teams, which were both mediocre to poor, with the lack of shooting and goaltending not helping anything.

This year they've jumped from 26th in sh% and 25th in sv% all the way up to 6th in sh% and 6th in sv%, which has made all the difference.

Is it sustainable? it might be, especially in a short season, but likely not - they still lack the elite shooting talent to sustain that kind of shooting percentage, and Allen shouldn't continue to be super elite. But then again, they should likely finish much higher in both categories than they did last year, which should mean a nice improvement for them either way.

but still, there are obviously fluky things going on there - like having 7 shorthanded goals in 12 games, and like a 33yr old dman Petry scoring at a 40gl/100pt pace.

overall, though, they analytics said they were elite last year in the most sustainable categories, so you can't be too surprised that they're looking good so far.

 

[Not My Tempo]

LFG!

I love how pumped Matthews gets when someone else scores, but then when he scores he just emotionless

 

[Notsince67]

Leafs better know what is at stake here. These are the habs. Should be enough to get motivated.
I try not to slam players but the laggards will get my full wrath for these games. I want Holl and Muzzin to knock some filling loose with hits.
I want the Tavares line to make the habs cry with frustration. I want the third line to contribute for a change. I want Anderson to keep his composure and be a wall. I want Rielly to remind them that he is dangerous too.
Most of all, I want Matthew's line to show them that they are no-where near good enough to even hope for success this year. This is an important series and we will see who has the stones to show up.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Not liking that third line and Vesey should be seeing the press-box more

 

[Wafflewhipper]

First thing Keefe needs to do is start some trouble in this one by dressing Sabourine. Chiarot and Weber need to get a reminder they are getting a answer for going after Matthews. Simmonds was going to handle that. Now he’s out so I’m not so sure letting it slide just because Wayne Simmonds isn’t around to take care of it is a idea they should even think.

 

[Stephen]

I think the Leafs need to approach this game with a healthy amount of disrespect for the Habs. Yes, they had a big offseason adding a bunch of big mucking players and they’ve really laid waste to Canada. But so have we in our own style, we beat Montreal often and we eat Carey Price for breakfast. No need to build them up to be the Big Bad Canadiens. Play our game, skate them into the ground, light up Price and start a goalie controversy for them.

 

[Stephen]

Not liking that third line and Vesey should be seeing the press-box more

Vesey doesn’t add much.

 

[Clark4Ever]

It's a shame we're not facing them at full strength, but we're healthy enough to beat them if everyone shows up.

I like the lines at practice.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

We likely split these next 2 games ... between Weber and Edmundson they will target Matty's back again in game 1 ... why not best to hurt guy again early as it makes it easier to win both games ... Keefe will know what is coming and I would hope our new tough guy dresses ... he does not need to play unless stupid happens again which it will

So do i hope he dresses Sabourin. Not because of whats coming but because of what they have coming to them. Simmonds was going to wreck their top pair. I don’t like losing Simmonds. Couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Do any of the rest of them have any jam! We’ll see

 

[TheDoldrums]

Petan on PP1, I like it. What an opportunity for him.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I would put Saboruin in for Barabanov in this game but what do I know.

Everything apparently

 

[Rondo Hatton]

Looked at the schedule for Feb 13 - 20

Montreal
Feb 13 vs Toronto
Feb 20 @Toronto

Toronto
Feb 13 @montreal
Feb 15 vs Ottawa
Feb 17 vs Ottawa
Feb 18 vs Ottawa
Feb 20 vs Montreal

How did that ever get through their schedule making software? Might as well forfeit that Feb 20 game now.

Last year too, the Habs had this very favorable schedule match up against the Leafs. 3 times getting us on the second night of a back to back and combined with Babcock's stubborn stupid policy that would see Hutch in net on the 2nd night.

Not a conspiracy, just typical stupid Hab luck.

 

[Notsince67]

I would put Saboruin in for Barabanov in this game but what do I know.

As much as me apparently.

 

[Marshy]

Not liking that third line and Vesey should be seeing the press-box more

With Jumbo and Robertson set to come back next week - these next two games are going to decide who comes out of the lineup. Boyd and Spezza have earned their spots so between the bottom 4, which 2 want it more? One of them is lucky Simmonds is out or else there would only be 1 spot left.

Vesey/Engvall/Barabanov/Petan

Vesey and Barabanov to my eye are the ones who are in danger of losing their spots next week. Sabourin might even find himself with a callup depending on how it goes these next 2 games. In fact, what better time to give him a look than next week vs. the Sens.

 

[tmlfan98]

I would sub Sabourin in for Vesey and try

Petan-Boyd-Spezza
Engvall-Kerfoot-Sabourin

If that doesn't work switch to

Kerfoot-Boyd-Petan
Sabourin-Engvall-Spezza

 

[ShaneFalco]

With Jumbo and Robertson set to come back next week - these next two games are going to decide who comes out of the lineup. Boyd and Spezza have earned their spots so between the bottom 4, which 2 want it more? One of them is lucky Simmonds is out or else there would only be 1 spot left.

Vesey/Engvall/Barabanov/Petan

Vesey and Barabanov to my eye are the ones who are in danger of losing their spots next week. Sabourin might even find himself with a callup depending on how it goes these next 2 games. In fact, what better time to give him a look than next week vs. the Sens.

Agreed, and may not find their way back in

 

[Randy Randerson]

Our games against the Habs are going to feel like a playoff series all season, then we're probably gonna get a series against them. I was honestly a little bummed that it looked like they were downtrending to what looked like a long rebuild with all those long contracts to older guys because I thought we might miss getting a bunch of series against them. I still think they get pulled under by those contracts for a while, but I love to hate the Habs and pumped that we're going to get a rivalry again.

 

[crump]

Nucks were a very motivated team in that last game, gave us a good game until they imploded. Habs will give us the same test, but probably won't implode. It will be tight. I am going to miss the high scoring games....(jinxing the Habs here)

 

[fahad203]

If you are not going to play Sabourin in games like these, then why did you even sign him?

I would love nothing more for the Leafs to light up Montreal to put them in their place

They have had a hot start but I am still not convinced this is a good team

 

[JT AM da real deal]

So do i hope he dresses Sabourin. Not because of whats coming but because of what they have coming to them. Simmonds was going to wreck their top pair. I don’t like losing Simmonds. Couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Do any of the rest of them have any jam! We’ll see

Yeah I heard same thing from kids that Simmonds had already told guys he was gonna challenge Weber before game in pre game skate in Montreal just to get the temp ... who knows if Weber accepts or cowards out but da scene would have been set and Habs room would have known when they went back in dressing room ... I used that tactic a few times myself