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Canadiens: Game 1 Preview – Canadiens vs Maple Leafs

By Patrick Lortie|
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 29: Fans of the Montreal Canadians and the Toronto Maple Leafs take in the atmosphere prior to game six of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 29, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 29: Fans of the Montreal Canadians and the Toronto Maple Leafs take in the atmosphere prior to game six of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 29, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The season starts tonight! Game 1 of the regular season starts on the roads for our Montreal Canadiens as they battle their (and our) long-time rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs will certainly want to come roaring out of the gate in order to partially avenge their first round exit against the Habs. In the bleu-blanc-rouge corner, the Habs will try to demonstrate character and leadership from new sources as they begin their season without captain Shea Weber and their undisputed goaltending champion Carey Price.

Here are some notable stories from both teams:

TORONTO, ON – MAY 31: Part of 550 Healthcare workers who took in play between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 31: Part of 550 Healthcare workers who took in play between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs

2020-2021 record: 35-14-7 (77 Points) 1st in North Division

Playoffs: Eliminated in 7 games in the 1st round vs Montreal

Head Coach: Sheldon Keefe

Captain: John Tavares

Notable Injuries: Auston Matthews (wrist surgery – day-to-day), Ilya Mikheyev (broken thumb – 8 weeks), Mitch Marner (undisclosed – game time decision)

Projected Lineup: 

Forwards

Nick Ritchie – John Tavares – Mitch Marner

Michael Bunting – Alexander Kerfoot – William Nylander

Pierre Engvall – David Kampf – Ondrej Kase

Wayne Simmonds – Mike Amadio – Jason Spezza

Defence

Morgan Rielly – TJ Brodie

Jake Muzzin – Justin Holl

Rasmus Sandin – Travis Dermott

Goalies

Jack Campbell

Petr Mrazek

Dec 2, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens fans. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens fans. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Montreal Canadiens

2020-2021 record: 24-21-11 (59 Points) 4th in North Division

Playoffs: Eliminated in 5 games in the Stanley Cup Finals vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Head Coach: Dominique Ducharme

Captain: Shea Weber

Notable Injuries: Shea Weber (undisclosed – indefinite), Carey Price (torn meniscus + Player Assistance Program – indefinite), Paul Byron (hip Surgery – 2-3 months), Joel Edmundson (undisclosed – week-to-week), Mike Hoffman (lower body injury – (week-to-week), Sami Niku (Concussion – Indefinite)

Projected Lineup: 

Forwards

Tyler Toffoli – Nick Suzuki – Cole Caufield

Jonathan Drouin – Christian Dvorak – Josh Anderson

Joel Armia – Jake Evans – Brendan Gallagher

Artturi Lehkonen – Cedric Paquette – Matthieu Perreault

Defence

Brett Kulak – Jeff Petry

Ben Chiarot – David Savard

Alexander Romanov – Chris Wideman

Goalies

Jake Allen

Samuel Montembeault

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