Canadiens @ Leafs - Nov. 7th, 7:00pm - SN

[CarltonTheBear]

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Montreal Canadiens 10-3-3, 23 points​	@​	Toronto Maple Leafs 8-7-2, 18 points​

Projected Line-ups​

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky Bolduc-Danault-Texier Kreider-Evans-Anderson Newhook-Kapanen-Dach Hutson-Dobson Guhle-Carrier Xhekaj-Engstrom Fowler​

Cowan-Matthews-Roslovic Tavares-Paul-Nylander Joshua-Sissons-McKenna Duhaime-Blueger-MacEwen McCabe-Raddysh Rielly-Tanev OEL-Stecher Boborovsky​

Scratches​

Florian Xhekaj Owen Back​

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Vinni Lettieri Dakota Mermis​

Injuries​

Mike Matheson - Lower Body - Injured Reserve Ivan Demidov - Ankle - Injured Reserve Sam Montembeault - Lower Body - Injured Reserve​

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Kirill Marchenko - Lower Body - Injured Reserve Nick Blankenburg - Upper Body - Injured Reserve Marshall Rifai - Lower Body - Injured Reserve Miles Wood - Undisclosed - Injured Reserve Elvis Merzlikins - Shoulder - Injured Reserve Max Domi - Back - Injured Reserve​

Game Notes​

MTL -Jacob Fowler will likely start for the Canadiens

TOR -Sergei Bobrovsky will likely start for the Leafs -Tavares is expected to return to the line-up on Saturday after missing the past 9 games with a lower body injury. He was back at the 2LW spot as well as on PP1 at practice on Friday

Streams​

Sportsurge OnHockey NHL66​

 

[ZBBM]

Now I can return my full attention back to the Leafs. May this game be the start of a second Bluenami.

 

[L K]

As close to a must win game as you can get in early November.

Lost 3 of their last 4 games. Currently 0-2-1 against Atlantic teams.

Just win.

Nice to have Tavares back.

 

[cw]

As close to a must win game as you can get in early November.

Lost 3 of their last 4 games. Currently 0-2-1 against Atlantic teams.

Just win.

Nice to have Tavares back.

4 point rule: "Being more than 4 points out of a wildcard spot by American Thanksgiving has historically been a strong indicator of an uphill battle for a playoff berth."

Leafs are currently 2 pts out with teams ahead of them and behind them having games in hand

Between now and next Saturday, Leafs opponents with win%
Montreal .719
New Jersey.688
Colorado .588
Minnesota .750
Edmonton .735

Easier schedule before American Thanksgiving
Chicago .265
Los Angeles .429
Columbus .467
NY Islanders .533

They probably need 10 of 18 points to stay in the mix as a bubble team

As their regular NHL roster is all under contract for next season except for a 7th dman, re-signing Matthews could be a tough sell unless they do significantly better. Lots at stake

 

[Bill_Berg]

And no Marchenko for those games against good teams. If the goaltending improves, they can get those points.

 

[cw]

And no Marchenko for those games against good teams. If the goaltending improves, they can get those points.

I'd be delighted if they can get 5 out of a possible 10 points
Ignoring the competition, 5 games in 8 days isn't easy
They're at home for all of them so that should help