Games like this, on a day dedicated to celebrating hockey in Canada to boot, transcend the standings and draft pick positioning. It’s about representing the crest on the jersey in the game’s oldest rivalry. Let’s hope the boys show up. It’s as simple as that.
Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines
James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel
Daniel Winnik – Nazem Kadri – Richard Panik
Leo Komarov – Peter Holland – Mike Santorelli
David Booth – Trevor Smith – David Clarkson
Morgan Rielly – Cody Franson
Jake Gardiner – Roman Polak
Korbinian Holzer – Stephane Robidas
Jonathan Bernier
James Reimer
Scratched: Petter Granberg
Injured: Joffrey Lupul (lower body), Dion Phaneuf (upper body)
Montreal Canadiens Projected Lines
Max Pacioretty – David Desharnais – Dale Weise
Alex Galchenyuk – Tomas Plekanec – Brendan Gallagher
Lars Eller – Jacob De La Rose – Brandon Prust
Michael Bournival – Manny Malhotra – Christian Thomas
Andrei Markov – P.K. Subban
Nathan Beaulieu – Sergei Gonchar
Alexei Emelin – Mike Weaver
Carey Price
Dustin Tokarski
Scratched: Tom Gilbert, Jiri Sekac
Injured: Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (concussion)
Status report: The Maple Leafs‘ morning skate at Bell Centre and Montreal’s at its suburban practice facility were optional. Weaver and Malhotra will play for the first time since Feb. 1. Weaver has played twice in the previous 25 games. (NHL.com)
Who’s hot: Panik had a goal and an assist Thursday. He has three points in his past three games after going without a point in his previous 14 games. Rielly has scored three of his seven goals in the past three games. … Price is 16-3-1 in his past 20 starts. Markov has a four-game points streak (two goals, three assists). Subban has five assists in his past five games. (NHL.com)
