PREMATCH
The Canadian visits the Toronto Maple Leafs this evening, against whom he will try to stop his losing streak to five.
Thursday, despite their “most complete game” of the season in the eyes of veteran Jake Evans and head coach Martin St-Louis, the Habs lost 5-3 against the Devils in New Jersey.
This evening will be the second game in a sequence of four on opposing ice rinks. The Montreal team will visit the Buffalo Sabers and the Minnesota Wild next week.
The CH will compete for victory against the Leafs for a second time this season. During the first match of the campaign, the Canadian blanked their eternal rivals by a score of 2-0, largely thanks to the 48 saves of Samuel Montembeault, who will be the starting goalkeeper in front of the Montreal cage. This will be his fourth consecutive start, a season high.
“It’s a Saturday night, in Toronto, against the Maple Leafs. There is nothing better than that to prepare you, motivate you and breathe,” underlined Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis. “We need a victory and tonight’s match will give us some energy. »
“All games are important, but it would definitely be good to win tonight in Toronto,” admitted Habs defender Michael Matheson.
With a record slightly above .500 (8-5-2), the Torontonians will be looking for a third win in a row. However, they will be without the services of their captain Auston Matthews, who is currently on the injured list with an upper body injury. He will miss a third game in a row.
Joseph Woll will be the starting goalie for the Leafs this evening.
According to the defensive trios and duos deployed at the Canadian’s training in the morning, no changes would be made to the formation compared to the last match.
Caufield Suzuki roof
Newhook-Evans-Slafkovsky
Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher
Heineman-Conduct-Armia
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Struble
