[7:00 PM] Maple Leafs @ Canadiens

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Maple Leafs (8-6-3)

@ Montreal Canadiens (13-3-2)

 

Starting Goalies:

Frederik Andersen (TOR): Confirmed

Carey Price (MON): Confirmed

 

• The league-leading Montreal Canadiens look to end a disappointing week on a high note when they begin a three-game homestand on Saturday against the Original Six-rival Toronto Maple Leafs. Montreal stormed out of the gate this season with a 10-game point streak (9-0-1) and followed up its first regulation loss with a four-game winning streak but fell to 0-2-1 over the last six days with Friday’s 3-2 setback in Carolina.

• Toronto is hoping to continue its offensive surge, as it has scored six goals in four of its last six games – with all four resulting in victories. Connor Brown, who had recorded three points in his previous 16 contests, registered a career-high four – including a personal-best two goals – on Thursday as the Maple Leafs rolled to a 6-1 home triumph over Florida.

• Auston Matthews is finding that it’s not so easy to be a top scorer in the world’s best league after all. After netting four goals in his NHL debut and collecting 10 points over his first six games, the 2016 first overall draft pick has recorded only two assists in his last 11 contests and has been kept off the scoresheet in each of the last two – both of which were six-goal efforts by Toronto.

• A return to the lineup by Alexander Radulov could help Montreal, as the 30-year-old Russian – who is tied for second on the team with 14 points – has missed the last two contests with an illness. Radulov played a major role in the Canadiens’ 2-1 home victory over Toronto on Oct. 29, setting up both goals – including defenseman Shea Weber’s winner at 7:24 of the third period.

• Toronto has had 17 different goal scorers this season, but LW Matt Martin and D Nikita Zaitsev have yet to tally despite playing in all 17 of the team’s games.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Montreal Canadiens

Confidence: 7/10

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