GDT: CANADIENS at MAPLE LEAFS, March 22, 7 PM

[ZARTONK]

CANADIENS (38-26-7) at MAPLE LEAFS (36-27-8)

TV: NHLN-US, CBC, RDS

Last 10: Montreal 5-5-0; Toronto 4-5-1

Season series
The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs will play for the fifth and final time in 2013-14. Toronto holds a 2-1-1 edge, winning 4-3 in the season opener Oct. 1 as well as 5-3 in Toronto on Jan. 18. Montreal won the two meetings at Bell Centre, 4-2 on Nov. 30 and 4-3 in overtime March 1.

Montreal Canadiens
Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Thomas Vanek
Danny Brière - Tomas Plekanec - Brendan Gallagher
Rene Bourque - Alex Galchenyuk - Brian Gionta
Travis Moen - Lars Eller - Dale Weise

Andrei Markov - Alexei Emelin
Francis Bouillon - P.K. Subban
Douglas Murray - Mike Weaver

Carey Price
Peter Budaj

Toronto Maple Leafs
James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel
Joffrey Lupul - Nazem Kadri - Nikolai Kulemin
Mason Raymond - Dave Bolland - David Clarkson
??? - Jay McClement - Troy Bodie

Carl Gunnarsson - Dion Phaneuf
Cody Franson - Jake Gardiner
Morgan Rielly - Tim Gleason

James Reimer
Drew MacIntyre

They're either playing Peter Holland on the 4th line, of Paul Ranger as a 7th D.

Who's hot
Forward Thomas Vanek has four goals in his past two games for Montreal while linemate Max Pacioretty has five points, all assists, in his past five games. Justine Dufour-Lapointe, Eugenie Bouchard and Subway girl. Center Tomas Plekanec has an assist in three straight games. … Toronto defenseman Jake Gardiner has five goals in his past seven games.

Injury report
Prust (upper body) is out for Montreal while defenseman Josh Gorges (hand) is out until shortly before the playoffs start. … Defenseman Paul Ranger (head) is missing for the Maple Leafs and Bolland (ankle) and Bernier (groin) will be game-time decisions.

 

[ZARTONK]

Maybe one day I'll try to make nicer looking GDTs.

 

[Smokey Thompson]

So pumped for this game.

Patches hasn't scored since his 30th goal. Expecting at least a hat trick tonight.

 

[beaverBFP]

So pumped for this game.

Patches hasn't scored since his 30th goal. Expecting at least a hat trick tonight.

I hope you're right, I need those fantasy points :p

 

[snakeye]

Rene Bourque - Alex Galchenyuk - Brian Gionta

Finally!

 

[JuicyHam]

So pumped for this game.

Patches hasn't scored since his 30th goal. Expecting at least a hat trick tonight.

At least! I'm hoping for as much as 7 or more though.

 

[JuicyHam]

:

Rene Bourque - Alex Galchenyuk - Brian Gionta

Finally!

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Honestly for all the talk about their forward core, ours looks to be in the same ballpark. Maybe less top-end talent but they're certainly comparable, I would even say we have better depth.

 

[JuicyHam]

Isn't Paul ranger hurt? And also a defensman?

 

[dreamingofdrouin*]

bourque better play like he gives a **** tonight, we need all lines going.

 

[eFFeRR]

Can't wait to see Boullion, Murray and Weaver in action tonight

 

[ZARTONK]

Btw, lines may change for Toronto, they don't seem sure. Bolland might play.

 

[Halifaxhab*]

There is talk that Reimer would sit and Macintyre would play.....and we shake our heads at MT.

Looking forward to seeing Chucky @centre. He likes the big games and this could be good.

 

[Teufelsdreck]

Bourque has been a disappointment. Too bad he's not more like his HOF namesake. He's not going to be traded unless Bergevin is creative in adding a more desirable asset to sweeten the deal. I predict he'll go the way Kaberle did.

 

[LeHab]

Rene Bourque - Alex Galchenyuk - Brian Gionta

Finally!

Happy to see Gal at C but not too thrilled with having crap on his line. Give him one of Pac or Vanek, you know someone with at least some skills to finish his plays.

 

[Teufelsdreck]

Happy to see Gal at C but not too thrilled with having scrubs on his line. Give him one of Pac or Vanek, you know someone with at least some skills to finish his plays.

His linemates don't lack skills. Each has had high-scoring seasons. They're simply over the hill.

 

[Richiebottles]

Benching Tinordi is a mistake. We could use him. It will be ugly out there with our 3 #7 D-men.

JUST WIN PLZ

 

[JayKing]

Happy to see Gal at C but not too thrilled with having crap on his line. Give him one of Pac or Vanek, you know someone with at least some skills to finish his plays.

maybe not those guys, but at least Gallagher.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Benching Tinordi is a mistake. We could use him. It will be ugly out there with our 3 #7 D-men.

JUST WIN PLZ

He needs to go to Hamilton.

Still inexcusable for Beaulieu to not be with the team.

 

[JLP]

Tinordi makes an error, the coach could encourage the kid to live and learn and get him back out there. Instead of encouragement Therrien uses punishment and scratches Tinordi. So we'll play the big bad and desperate leafs with the 5'9" Weaver and 5'8" Bouillon on D. I ****ing hate Therrien.

 

[JohnnyB11]

Benching Tinordi is a mistake. We could use him. It will be ugly out there with our 3 #7 D-men.

JUST WIN PLZ

Uglier than Thursday night's game losing gaffe?

 

[HTTP 400]

Huge game!

A win in regulation pretty much means we will be facing Tampa Bay in the 1st round. Toronto would then have to get 6 more points than Montreal in 10 games for it not to happen... very improbable.

A loss though, would put us in the middle of the war for the wild card with Detroit and Toronto.

Please Habs, just win!

 

[BLONG7]

Huge game!! We need a good start, and the lead in the 1st period!!

 

[HarrisonFord]

Err, I think Paul Ranger as the 4th line RW is incorrect OP

 

[Richiebottles]

Uglier than Thursday night's game losing gaffe?

Rookies make mistakes, and if we keep on benching them each time they will not be able to learn and grow.