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TSN Toronto Maple Leafs Reporter

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TORONTO – Try as they might to avoid stalking the NHL standings, the Maple Leafs admit to being mostly aware of their positioning, sandwiched in third place in the Atlantic Division between Boston (four points up on the Leafs) and Montreal (three points back), with a game in hand on each.

In a tight race, even that advantage of an extra game remaining could pay dividends. But while both Boston and Montreal have caught onto winning streaks (seven straight for the Bruins, two straight for the Canadiens), Toronto has lost three consecutive games for the first time all season, right as it welcomes in Montreal for a high-stakes Saturday night clash that needs no interpretation.

“If you look at the standings, the points are close and this is an important game,” said Morgan Rielly after the Leafs’ optional morning skate on Saturday. “They’re a good team. We play them a lot, we know those guys pretty well and they’re playing well. Last time we went into their building, it was an important game and both teams were ready. I’d expect the same tonight.”

In that contest on Feb. 9, the Leafs and Habs traded goals right up to the finish line, where Toronto topped its archrivals 4-3 on John Tavares’s overtime game-winner.

The Leafs overcame two deficits and lost one lead through the end of regulation that night, a presentation of track-meet hockey at its best. But after that action-packed performance with an equally thrilling end, both teams found themselves faltering. Toronto lost four of its next six outings, while Montreal lost three of five, but the Habs have seemingly put their struggles to bed, and the Leafs are preparing for another engaging battle.

“They play fast; I think they’re playing well. They went through a bit of a dip and they’re right back at it,” said Mike Babcock. “You can control the neutral zone and get going the other way. If you can keep them off your defence, you’re going to be way better off. The team that establishes that first and maintains it is going to have more opportunity to generate offence.”

Doing just that has been a challenge for the Leafs this last week, especially early in games. Toronto has scored only four goals in its last three outings, all in the third period, and has been outshot through the first two periods of those games by a combined 72-57.

No one among the Leafs is pleased about those numbers. Yet there's a distinctly different feeling heading into Saturday, one that facing non-conference opponents like Arizona (2-0 loss) and St. Louis (3-2 overtime loss) or non-divisional foes like Washington (3-2 loss) can't offer in the same way as a century's worth of history with the Habs can. 

“I think tonight we’re going to try to have a better start. It’s a team we know a bit better. We should be ready,” said Rielly. “You just learn a little bit about each other [each time]. We feel like we have room to improve and I’m sure they do as well. We’re going to talk about things between [puck drop] and now and we’re going to come here tonight ready to play.”

“It’s Saturday night against the Habs in Toronto,” surmised Kasperi Kapanen. “I don’t think it gets better than that.”

Setting pageantry aside, the Leafs can take heart in how well they’ve played against the Canadiens all season. Thus far they're 2-0-0, both wins coming in overtime, and Kapanen thought the most recent meeting reflected some of Toronto’s best work, especially when it came to pressuring Carey Price.

Both he and Frederik Andersen were busy two weeks ago, facing 38 and 32 shots respectively, and the Leafs intend to bring more of that on Saturday.

“We had a really good 60 minutes [in that game], to be honest,” said Kapanen. “We were just getting pucks in deep, holding onto pucks and then shooting on Carey. He’s a tremendous goalie, so just have to get enough pucks on net and eventually they’ll start going in.”

If all goes according to plan, the Leafs will be at full strength on their blue line protecting Andersen against Montreal, with Jake Gardiner expected to play after he missed Friday’s practice. Nazem Kadri will continue to sit out with a concussion, though, replaced at third-line centre by William Nylander.

In a season where the Leafs haven’t enjoyed as much consistency as they would like, in their lineup or on the ice, the chance to face a familiar opponent and attempt to right the ship is too good an opportunity to waste.  

“I don’t think they’re doing anything that surprises us in the least bit,” said Babcock. “You know what they’re doing; they know what you’re doing. Now you have to go out there and play harder and longer and smarter than they do.”

Maple Leafs projected lineup vs. Montreal

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen
Marleau-Nylander-Brown
Lindholm-Gauthier-Ennis

Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Muzzin-Dermott

Andersen starts
Sparks