The Maple Leafs are in town tonight to face the Canadiens. The Habs will try to
avenge a 2-0 lost suffered in their season opener in Toronto on October
6th. The Canadiens are still looking for their first win of the season on home
ice. With only 1 win in their first 6 games of the season, it is the Habs worst start since 1995-96 when they lost their first 5 games. For many Habs fans, that losing streak marked the end of an era.
Serge Savard and Jacques Demers were fired during that losing streak, and
Patrick Roy was traded a little more than a month later. Ironically, 16 years
later, many Habs fans are asking the head of another coach named Jacques, and
want Patrick Roy back.
For the Leafs, Phil Kessel is enjoying a terrific season start, leading the league in
goals and points. It will only be the Leafs’ second road game. They lost their
only road game in Boston on Thursday by a count of 6-2. Bozak and MacArthur represent
game time decisions. Komisarek, scratched for the Leafs last game in Boston, is
in the lineup tonight. It was expected earlier this week that new acquisition
Tim Connolly could make his Leafs debut tonight. Even though he practiced hard
this morning, he will remain on the press box tonight.
Jacques Martin announced this morning that Scott Gomez will miss a week due
to an upper body injury. Spacek has resumed skating and is doubtful for
tonight’s contest. Cammalleri returned Thursday, 11 days after suffering a cut
near his knee. He played 19 minutes – however only sporadically on the top line
– and had only 1 shot on goal.
Montréal lines vs Toronto Season opener – Oct. 6 |
Montréal lines vs Toronto Game 7 – Oct. 22 |
Toronto lines vs Montréal Game 7 – Oct. 22 |
| Cammalleri – Plekanec – Kostitsyn Pacioretty – Gomez – Gionta Darche – Desharnais – Cole Moen – Engqvist – Weber Gill – Subban Price |
Cammalleri – Plekanec – Cole Pacioretty – Desharnais – Gionta Moen – Eller – Kostitsyn Darche – Engqvist – Palushaj Gorges – Subban Price |
Lupul – Lombardi – Kessel MacArthur – Garbovski – Kulemin Kadri – Steckel – Frattin Brown – Dupuis – Rosehill Gunnarsson – Phaneuf Schenn – Gardiner Reimer |
HW’s Victory Keys
1) Be more creative and desperate around the net: Habs’ skilled
forwards need to stop being nice around the net. They must work harder to get
rebound shots and make Reimer’s job harder than in was on opening night.
2) Score the first goal: The Canadiens’ confidence level is very low.
Scoring the first goal would get a load off everybody’s back.
3) Cammy’s knee: Cammalleri was able to play nearly 20 minutes in his
return, although on the bottom lines. We will need him to play the same amount,
and more, on the top line with Plekanec.
4) Avoid turnovers: Subban, Gill and Gorges are amongst league leaders
in Giveaways. The forwards need to support more the defense and contribute more
to that important part of the game which is transition from the defensive to the
offensive zone.
5) Desharnais’ occasion: Desharnais doesn’t have anything to prove.
However, with Gomez out, he is not a "3rd line bonus" anymore. In order to win
games, the Habs count on him to produce on a regular basis.
The puck drops at 7:00 PM EST and can be seen on CBC and RDS. TSN 990
and FM 98.5 have the game on the radio.