Lance Hornby offers five things to watch for when the Habs and Leafs face off at the Air Canada Centre.
TORONTO Though they might not see a lot of each other, 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 host the Montreal Canadiens today.
The Canadiens traded Plekanec to the Leafs, moving on and trying to build around a new group that includes young 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 Nazem Kadri’s midseason stumble.
When Kadri was in the midst of recording just two points in a 20-game stretch, Babcock refused to call it a slump.
That hasn’t changed. “I didn’t know he had a slump,” Babcock said. “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.”
Kadri’s production is up now, with 13 goals and 10 assists in the 22 games since Jan. 22.
The Leafs were 9-9-4 during his “slump” and 16-4-2 since.
1
Fast starts
Three recent games featured these teams scoring the opening two goals. But while the Leafs emerged winners after comeback bids by Dallas and Buffalo, the Habs couldn’t hold on against the Penguins in a 5-3 loss on Thursday.
2
Stars returning? Toronto might get back some injured players, namely Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen.
3
Van Riemsdyk roll Leafs flanker James van Riemsdyk is on a roll with five goals and an assist in two games and a career-high 31 goals for the season. Credit centre Tyler Bozak with getting the puck to him.
4
Home-ice advantage 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.
5
Lehkonen scoring
The Habs’ Artturi Lehkonen posted his ninth goal of the season against the Pens, giving the Finn four goals in three games.