New take on Leafs-Habs rivalry for Plekanec

TORONTO• Though they might not see a lot of each other head- to- head, Tomas Plekanec versus Jonathan Drouin will underline the change in direction for two of Canada’s most beloved NHL franchises when the Toronto Maple Leafs play host to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

The Canadiens traded Plekanec to the Leafs at the trade deadline, moving on and trying to build around a new group in coming years that will include young veteran centre Drouin.

Expect Plekanec to be a bit disoriented when he sees that CH crest again.

Meanwhile, don’ t ask Leafs coach Mike Babcock about Toronto centre Nazem Kadri’s mid-season stumble.

When Kadri was in the midst of recording just two points during a 20- game stretch earlier this season — including 12-straight outings in which he was held entirely off the scoresheet — Babcock refused to call it a slump.

That opinion hasn’ t changed.

“I didn’t know he had a slump,” Babcock quipped. “I kept hearing about the slump, and he’d be playing against the best players and we’d win and they’d get no goals.

“So to me, that’s what he’s paid to do right there. He’s paid to make sure that someone else can win the matchup in the lineup, and then the rest of it is a bonus.”

Whatever you want to call those seven- plus weeks between Dec. 2 and Jan. 22, Kadri’s production is back close to its 2016- 17 levels with 13 goals and 10 assists in the 22 games since.

“I kept things the same,” Kadri said. “Throughout the course of the season there’s going to be highs and lows, and times when you struggle.

“( I) tried to be the best teammate I could be and stayed positive.”

The Leafs were just 9- 9- 4 during his “slump” and are 16-4-2 since.

Here are five things to watch for when the Habs and Leafs face off at the Air Canada Centre:

Both teams have played a combined three recent games in which they scored the opening two goals. But while the Leafs emerged the winners after comeback bids by Dallas and Buffalo, the Habs couldn’t hold on against the powerful Penguins in a 5-3 loss on Thursday.

Toronto might get back a couple of injured players, namely Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen.

Leaf flanker James van Riemsdyk is on a roll with five goals and an assist in the past two games, a career high 31 goals for the season and an outside shot at 35 or 40. Credit centre Tyler Bozak with getting the puck to him, at even strength and power play.

The Leafs are at 11-straight home wins, a franchise best. The advantage of last line change on top of a more established lineup should help, too, especially without Carey Price to shut the door for the visitors.

The Habs’ Artturi Lehkonen posted his ninth goal of the season against the Pens, giving the Finn four goals in the past three games.