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Maple Leafs (28-16-2) at Canadiens (22-18-4)
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WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet RADIO: 590
ODDS
Toronto +170, Montreal –215
THE BUZZ
The Canadiens are slowly making believers of their fans again in the depths of winter, on a heater of 11-2-1 that has included beating some very good teams. The Stars were the latest victims, right in Big D on Thursday, a 3-1 final … Habs forward Patrik Laine has points in six of his past 10 games, always looking forward to facing his 2016 draft mate Auston Matthews … This year’s series has been split, a win in each home arena, but this could be Toronto’s first look at impressive rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes … The Leafs arrive after pulling out a 4-3 overtime win against New Jersey, led by Matthews and William Nylander (two goals each) and two helpers from Mitch Marner … Former Habs players Max Domi and Max Pacioretty will likely get another mixed crowd reception … Montreal defenceman Lane Hutson is on a six-game points streak, four in his last two starts … The Canadiens have the league’s eighth-best penalty killing at 82.%, but they’re also minus 20 in penalties taken versus drawn, while the Leafs hope to continue modest improvements on their power play.
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THE NEWS
Rookie Canadiens’ winger Emil Heineman was struck by a car earlier this week while walking around Salt Lake City during the Utah portion of their road trip. He sustained an upper-body injury that will sideline him three to four weeks … The Leafs lost No. 2 centre John Tavares for at least a week with a lower body injury at Wednesday’s practice … Dobes set a Canadiens’ goaltending record for a newcomer by allowing just four goals in his first four starts … Anthony Stolarz has resumed practicing for the Leafs after minor knee surgery, but the goalie is not close to a return … Matthews’ next power-play goal will be his 100th and is currently behind only Mats Sundin (124) and Darryl Sittler (120) in team history.
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THE QUOTE
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“I don’t know who gets more breakaways in the NHL than this guy.” — Matthews on Nylander, who was in alone on Thursday’s game winner.
THE POLL
What’s your favourite game broadcast term by legendary Montreal play-by-play man Danny Gallivan?
“Coming out gingerly from his own zone.”“A cannonading drive.”“A Savardian spinarama.”“The puck is somewhere in the goalie’s paraphernalia.
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Habs rookie goalie Jakub Dobes ready to rock in the Maple Leafs-Canadiens rivalry
LEAFS TAKEAWAYS: Big guns rolled out at the right time for Toronto
THE PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP
ForwardsMatthew Knies – Auston Matthews – Mitch MarnerBobby McMann – Max Domi – William NylanderMax Pacioretty – Fraser Minten/Pontus Holmberg – Nick RobertsonSteven Lorentz – David Kampf – Connor Dewar
DefenceJake McCabe – Chris TanevMorgan Rielly – Oliver Ekman-LarssonSimon Benoit – Connor Timmins/Philippe Myers
GoalJoseph WollDennis Hildeby
INJURIES
Toronto: G Anthony Stolarz (knee), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), C John Tavares (lower body), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin)
Montreal: D David Reinbacher (knee), F Emil Heineman (upper body).
THE PREDICTION
Leafs are overdue to be in their first shootout tiebreaker and will lose it by a goal.
lhornby@postmedia.com
X: @sunhornby
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