Game preview and how to watch

Game 21: Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet E/O/P (English), TVA Sports (French)
Streaming: CBC Gem, ESPN+

For the first time this season, the Montreal Canadiens’ skaters seemed to get demoralized by their goaltending on Thursday night. They responded well after Samuel Montembeault allowed a goal just as the game began by tying the game before the first period was up, but another two quick goals to begin the second changed their game. The initial pushback after going down 3-1 led to a goal of their own, but the structure faltered from there with numerous defensive lapses and forwards deviating from the usual breakout formation trying to create offence on their own. The result was another five goals against after that initial 3-1 deficit, and the three additional goals the Habs scored themselves weren’t nearly enough to keep pace in an 8-4 loss.

Martin St-Louis made his point clear yesterday that the team couldn’t abandon the style of play that got them off to a good start and had them getting closer to a win with quality efforts leading up to Thursday’s contest. You have to think the goaltending woes factored into the intensity of his message as well, fully aware that the execution of the players is critical to preventing the puck from reaching the net as often as possible. It’s a tough situation for everyone, but the punishment of an immediate goal against for each mistake might at least prevent bad habits from forming.

The coach also knew that a repeat of that performance was possible tonight if the issues weren’t addressed. Despite the eight goals, Washington hasn’t been a strong offensive team this season. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been, scoring 72 goals through 21 games played, and have the ability to run up another high total on the scoreboard.

Tale of the Tape

As the clubs come together for the second time this season, however, the Maple Leafs are dealing with injuries to their forwards that have impacted that offensive performance. In the past seven games they’ve scored four goals just a single time, and have won one game, very similar to what Montreal has done over the past couple of weeks.

The biggest loss has been Auston Matthews, out with a lower-body injury since November 11, but Matthew Knies joins him as another member of the opening-night top line forced to sit on the sidelines. The latest report is that Knies is nearing a return, but that is unlikely to come tonight in Montreal. The offence has therefore been left up to those who would normally make up the second line, and John Tavares and William Nylander have done all they can to help out, each with 27 points so far. The main issue is that the team’s depth wasn’t strong even with a healthy roster, and now those players are being forced to play higher roles on the team, and the results speak for themselves about how that is going.

Toronto’s injury issues extend to their goaltending position with Anthony Stolarz currently out with an upper-body injury. Stolarz does have a fair record of 6-5-1, but his other stats have been far from impressive with an .884 save percentage and 3.51 goals-against average. Having returned from a season-opening injury of his own, Joseph Woll has been much better with at least a .900 save percentage in all three games he’s played. That’s what the Canadiens will be going up against tonight, requiring them to outplay their opponent just to offset the disparity in goaltending quality they will see.

Montreal is capable of doing that, and had been for several games before the loss in Washington. The Canadiens already have one loss versus a Maple Leafs side they outperformed on the opening night of their season, and should be motivated to even the record versus their rival. Everyone is eager to see this losing streak come to an end, and an opponent that has just one road win on the season and arrives in Montreal hampered by injuries will give the home side the chance to make that happen.