The Canadiens are taking an unusual route into Saturday night’s meeting with the Maple Leafs: no Friday practice, just travel.
After grinding out an overtime win over Utah on Thursday, Montreal canceled its scheduled session in Brossard and will head straight to Toronto for the next stop on the trip. It’s a simple call, and an obvious one. The Canadiens just played a demanding game, and there’s not much to be gained by squeezing in another skate before facing the Leafs.
That win over Utah came with plenty of work attached. Cole Caufield finished it off in overtime and put six shots on goal, while Nick Suzuki paced Montreal with three points.
But Utah kept the pressure on throughout the night, and Logan Cooley scored three goals to keep the Canadiens on edge. Jakub Dobes allowed four goals on 20 shots.
The workload was especially heavy on Montreal’s blue line. Lane Hutson led the team with 27 minutes, and Noah Dobson logged just over 20. With Toronto waiting Saturday, the Canadiens are clearly choosing rest over repetition.
The timing also fits the way Montreal has been playing. The Canadiens are 7-1-2 over their last 10 and 5-1-1 on the road, a stretch that gives them plenty of momentum heading into Toronto.
The Maple Leafs haven’t matched that pace. Toronto is 8-7-2, sits 17th overall in the NHL, and is coming off a 3-2 loss to Utah on Tuesday.
Even so, Montreal can’t afford to get casual about the matchup. Easton Cowan has become a real piece of Toronto’s attack, with 14 points in 17 games.
For the Canadiens, though, the priority right now is recovery. After a night that asked a lot of their defensemen, the day off should help keep legs fresh for another tough divisional test.
“Canadiens have cancelled practice that was scheduled for Friday morning in Brossard. Habs will fly to Toronto Friday and play Maple Leafs Saturday night.”
- Stu Cowan
Montreal heads to Toronto with a win in hand, a lighter Friday on the schedule, and another chance to keep its strong start rolling.
In Other News...
Canadiens Game Just Took A Turn After Key Utah Blue-Liner Exit
The game between Montreal and Utah took a notable turn in the second period when the Mammoth lost veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt to an upper-body injury. Schmidt, who brings plenty of NHL experience to Utahs blue line, was ruled out for the rest of the night after the team confirmed he would not return.
Utah did not offer any further details on the injury or say exactly when Schmidt exited, leaving the situation a little murky as the game moved on. For Montreal, any absence on the back end can change the look of a matchup quickly, especially against a defenseman with Schmidts track record and steady presence. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Growing Problem Ahead Of Montreal
The Maple Leafs are still tinkering with their forward mix as they get ready for Montreal, a sign of a lineup that is trying to settle itself at just the right time. Jack Roslovic was given a maintenance day, and Vinni Lettieri moved into a prominent spot as Toronto looks for more balance up front. Head coach Jim Hiller has made it clear the issue is not just who is available, but how long the club is spending in its own end.
For Montreal, the bigger picture is that Toronto is still managing a few moving parts while trying to sharpen its attack. John Tavares is moving forward in his recovery, but his return is not imminent until he clears the next checkpoint. The Maple Leafs want cleaner offensive-zone play and less defending, and the Canadiens will be watching to see whether those adjustments hold up once the puck drops. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Lineup Crunch Is Putting Real Pressure On Martin St-Louis
Martin St-Louis is running into a good problem, but it is still a problem. With captain Nick Suzuki back in the lineup and Kirby Dach also returning to health, the Canadiens coach had to make some difficult calls, and Suzuki immediately rewarded the decision with a goal and two assists in his first game back.
The bigger issue for Montreal is what happens next, because the roster is getting deeper at the same time other players have earned their way into the conversation. St-Louis has already acknowledged how hard these choices are, and as more bodies become available, the Canadiens may be heading toward even tougher lineup decisions. [Read more 🡒]