The Toronto Maple Leafs (33-14-8) host the Montreal Canadiens (23-28-4) at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. Montreal is coming off a high-scoring 6-2 loss against the Hurricanes on Thursday, ending a three-game winning streak.
The Canadiens took advantage of their power play opportunities, scoring once on three shots while holding Carolina without a power play goal. Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Michael Pezzetta both scored once for the Canadiens. Sam Montembeault only had 35 saves on 41 shots against (.853%) in the loss.
Toronto beat the Blackhawks 5-2 on Wednesday. Five players found the net for the Maple Leafs. William Nylander scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Ilya Samsonov was impressive in the win, making 27 saves (.931%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Canadiens have won both games between the teams this season, including a 3-2 (OT) victory in their most recent meeting in January. Rem Pitlick led Montreal with two points (1G 1A). Mark Giordano and Calle Jarnkrok were on the scoresheet for Toronto. Montembeault got the win, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947%).
FACING OFF
Montreal is averaging 2.65 goals per game for the season, 28th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Maple Leafs team that is allowing 2.65 goals a game (6th).
Meanwhile, Toronto has found the net 3.38 times a game on average, eighth in the league, and the Canadiens are allowing opponents to score 3.64 goals per game (27th).
Montreal averages fewer shots per game (27.9) than most teams in the league, ranking 30th. Toronto’s average of 32.2 attempts ranks 15th.
Look for a few power play opportunities for the Maple Leafs, as the Canadiens are averaging 4.60 penalties per game, second-most in the NHL.
The visitors’ 12.71 penalty minutes a game ranks first-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.76 times a game (18th) for an average of 8.36 minutes (22nd).
The Maple Leafs’ 25.00% power play percentage ranks sixth in the league, while the Canadiens are 27th with a conversion rate of 16.96%. While efficient on the power play, Montreal has been less successful at penalty killing, as the away team owns the league’s fifth-lowest PK% at 74.09%. Toronto’s 81.18% ranks ninth in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 42 points this season, Nick Suzuki is the top skater for the Canadiens. He has 17 goals and 25 assists in 55 games. In the net, Montembeault (11-10-2) is Montreal’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.17 GAA and a .909% save percentage. Jake Allen (12-17-2) leads the Canadiens in games played in goal.
He has a GAA of 3.42 and a save percentage of .895%.Mitchell Marner and Nylander lead the Maple Leafs in scoring with 65 and 64 points, respectively.
Marner has 19 goals and 46 assists (6th) in 55 games, while Nylander has 30 goals and 34 assists in 55 games. Samsonov (19-6-2) has the best goals against average for Toronto at 2.31, fourth-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .918%.
HOME AND AWAY
Montreal is 9-14-3 away from Bell Centre this season. Toronto is 21-6-4 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Toronto Maple Leafs -2.5 (+105)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
