FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Bubble Boy Demko

Thatcher Demko doesn't dwell on his past, but his present looks like his sizzling summer in backstopping the Canucks to within a win of advancing to the Western Conference final. After a slow season start, he's on a 3-0-0 roll with a shutout, 1.00 goals-against average and .969 save percentage. He has earned the start.

2. Track hotshot Toffoli

The former Canucks winger is tied for second in NHL goals (15) and his ability to find seams in the slot and unleash a quick shot has been the big series dagger. He has eight goals, including a hat trick, to go with three assists, 25 shots and a plus-9 rating in five meetings.

3. Power play progress

Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat scored Saturday as the much-maligned first unit struck twice in a 4-2 comeback win over Toronto. The Canucks dropped the drop-pass option for zone entries and their passes were crisp and so were finishes. It was the first time in nine games the PP managed two goals.

4. Hoglander's rookie rise

Nils Hoglander has 11 points (5-6) and has played more games than his highly touted first-year peers. But his ability to play in the Top 6, play in traffic and unleash a rocket of a shot was evident Saturday. He put the game away with a laser off the back bar.

5. Win the circle game

The Canucks are eighth in faceoff efficiency (52.6 per cent) and Bo Horvat ranks ninth overall (52.2) among centres who have taken at least 400 draws. He's also second in power play and even-strength faceoff wins. The Canadiens are rated 25th overall in total draws (47.5).

PROJECTED LINEUPS CANADIENS

Forwards: Tomas Tatar/Phillip Danault/Brendan Gallagher Jonathan Drouin/Nick Suzuki/ Joel Armia

Tyler Toffoli/Jesperi Kotkaniemi/Josh Anderson Artturi Lehkonen/Jake Evans/ Corey Perry

Defence: Ben Chiarot/Shea Weber

Joel Edmundson/Jeff Petry Brett Kulak/Alexander Romanov Goalies: Carey Price, Jake Allen

CANUCKS

Forwards: Tanner Pearson/Bo Horvat/Jake Virtanen

Nils Hoglander/J.T. Miller/ Brock Boeser

Marc Michaelis/Brandon Sutter/Adam Gaudette Antoine Roussel/Jay Beagle/ Jayce Hawryluk

Defence: Alex Edler/Nate Schmidt

Quinn Hughes/Travis HamonicJordie Benn/Tyler Myers Goalies: Thatcher Demko, Braden Holtby

SPECIAL TEAMS

Canadiens: PP 21.9% (15th) PK 76.7% (21st)

Canucks: PP 20.2% (18th) PK 81.1% (13th)

Ben Kuzma