Tonight, the Leafs look to move to 3-0 against the Canadiens and in the process take down the current Eastern Conference and Northeast Division leader.The Leafs have handed the Habs two of their only four regulation losses this season.
You have to like how the Leafs have matched up with the Habs so far this season, allowing just one goal in their two meetings, and the thoroughness of the Hockey Day in Canada beatdown has to give the Leafs a mental edge. The Leafs have gotten good goaltending against Montreal and have dominated the key areas of the ice with strong physical and defensive play. On the other hand, the Habs have gone 6-1-1 since the big defeat and are definitely going to be out to prove something after getting embarrassed in just about every way possible by the Leafs in their own barn.
That meeting was of course heated and the night’s events were still being talked about in the media several days later, between Grabo-gate and Pacioretty’s forensic photography. There usually isn’t the chaos you fantasize about in the rematch game following a heated affair, though. I’d expect a classic Habs road game without too much funny stuff, unless another blowout scenario plays itself out. The Habs should know they’re not going to push the Leafs around and appear to be learning from past mistakes, as there has been no prediction for tonight from Lars Eller.
A few Wednesday morning links…
If you missed our posts from yesterday, here’s Anthony’s always excellent Leafs Notebook, my thoughts on the sustainability of the Leafs success, and BCP’s Leafs Prospect Update for February 26th.
The Marlies’ Makeshift PDO
Gus Katsaros takes a run at calculating the Marlies‘ PDO before and after the NHL started up again.
Realignment would mean 4 Divisions
With the Leafs in the Central Division with the Bruins, Sabres, Habs, Sens, Detroit, Florida and Tampa Bay.
Michael Langlois asks: Who is the most surprising Leaf this season?
Really hard to pick between Scrivens, JvR and Kadri. Then there’s all of Kostka, Fraser and Holzer being more than 6/7 guys. Oh, and Franson. Thankfully, lots of pleasant ones to pick from.
Generic NHL.com Leafs-Habs Preview
Kadri living the dream with Maple Leafs
Been a long time since the Leafs have had a young forward this exciting.
Reimer edging closer to game action
Reimer could be back as early as tomorrow’s game against NYI. Hopefully the battle for starts only helps keep the Leafs’ goaltending sharp.
Spin on Sports
Damien Cox’s Leaf notes from yesterday.
Matt Frattin is still a week or more away
Frattin puts himself another week or so away from returning, saying he’s ahead on his 4-6 week rehab, which we were originally told, I suppose technically accurately, was “one week minimum.”
