Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs

MONTREAL CANADIENS AT MAPLE LEAFS
7:00 PM - AIR CANADA CENTRE
TV: CBC - RADIO: SPORTSNET 590
SBN: EYES ON THE PRIZE

The Maple Leafs host the Canadiens tonight and before the game the Leafs will honour the newest members of Legends Row. Representatives of Tim Horton and Turk Broda's families will be on hand as well as Dave Keon.

Comparing the two teams:

There are multiple takes on tonight so let's get into it:

The Homer:

WOOOOOOOO! Alright boys let's kick these puke city kids all the way back to re-Habs! HAHAHAHAHAHA! They don't have their pretty boy Price in net tonight, just some schlub who wasn't good enough for our Leafs! We don't have JVR but thats okay, Uncle Leo will take of the scoring. Jake and Riels will make sure no filthy divers get to Optimus Reim to elbow him in the head again like that fucker Gionta did. Ruined our season! That sonfofabitch is rotting in Buffalo now but thats too good for him. I wonder how that showoff Subban is going to get all flashy tonight. Maybe he'll have to donate another hospital to Montreal to make up for how he acts on the ice. I hope Babs is ready tonight, but we could have a chimpanzee behind the bench since the Habs have French Carlyle behind theirs, haha!

The Cynic:

Oh great, these guys again. When was the last time we could beat them? It's been like 10 games since the Leafs beat the Habs. Those guys have our number thats for sure. Who do we have on our top line? A guy deemed not good enough for them, and they've only won like 4 games since Price went down! To top things off they have ex-Leaf Ben Scrivens in net, so you know what that means, shutout for the Habs! Man, ex-Leafs always destroy Toronto when they come to town. What? He's not starting? He'll find a way.

My take:

It's a great night tonight! I love Leafs/Habs games. They haven't played each other since opening night when the Habs won 3-1. Both these teams suck. The Habs can't win without Price and the Leafs just can't score enough. Hopefully it's entertaining and everyone makes it out alive.

Potential Lines:

CANADIENS

Max Pacioretty - Tomas Plekanec - Brendan Gallagher
Alex Galchenyuk - David Desharnais - Dale Weise
Tomas Fleischmann - Lars Eller – Daniel Carr
Brian Flynn - Torrey Mitchell - Devante Smith-Pelly

Andrei Markov - P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin - Jeff Petry
Nathan Beaulieu - Mark Barberio

Mike Condon
Ben Scrivens

Injured: Carey Price (lower body), Tom Gilbert (lower body), Paul Byron (lower body)
Scratched: Greg Pateryn, Victor Bartley, Jacob De La Rose

MAPLE LEAFS

Shawn Matthias - Tyler Bozak - PA Parenteau
Michael Grabner - Nazem Kadri - Leo Komarov
Joffrey Lupul - Peter Holland - Josh Leivo
Daniel Winnik - Byron Froese - Rich Clune

Matt Hunwick - Morgan Rielly
Jake Gardiner - Dion Phaneuf
Martin Marincin - Roman Polak

James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier

Injured: James van Riemsdyk (foot), Nick Spaling (upper body), Stephane Robidas (lower body), Nathan Horton (nack/back)
Scratched: Frank Corrado, Brad Boyes

Morning News:

Mac Pacioretty on #habs slump: "We've come terms with what's happened and we're ready to turn the page."

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 23, 2016

Mike Babcock on Leo Komarov: "You don't have to hook booster cables up to him to get him going in the morning. He's ready to go."

— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) January 23, 2016

Doesn't look like Nick Spaling will return from injury tonight. Spaling hasn't played since mid-December.

— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) January 23, 2016

Looks like Josh Leivo will re-enter the Leafs lineup tonight. Replacing Boyes on line with Holland and Lupul.

— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) January 23, 2016

#Leafs prospect Tony Cameranesi had the primary assist on both goals for UMD on Friday night @HennyTweets #TMLtalk

— Däniel J Ändersön (@Hockeyhousebrd) January 23, 2016