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Can Toronto shut down the streak?; Leafs vs Canadiens |
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In spite of their success last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs could not exorcise their demons against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Leafs lost all four games in 2016-17 against their long time rival (three in regulation and one in overtime) and have not defeated the Habs in 14 straight contests, stretching back to a 5-3 Toronto victory on January 18, 2014 in which four of the five goal scorers (Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, Cody Franson and Mason Raymond) no longer play for the club.
“Someone said yesterday I was 0-14 against the Habs and then I said ‘no, probably 0-10’, but really it is 0-6-2.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock tried to keep things light on Saturday morning. “(The media) is making this a way bigger deal out of this than me. The Habs need two (points) and we need two, that’s it for me.”
Saturday’s contest is a match-up of polar opposites, as the Leafs are 3-1 and averaging more than five goals-per-game, while the Habs have lost three of their first four and scored just four goals.
Where Toronto has to be concerned is their inability so far to stifle their opposition’s ability to score. The Leafs have allowed 16 goals in wins over Winnipeg, New York and Chicago and a 6-3 loss to New Jersey on Wednesday and their head coach wants to see more effort from his squad.
“You’ve gotta bring it every day, and when you don’t, you don’t look very good….and I thought that was very evident in our last game. We let ourselves down.” Babcock said. “Some nights, the other team is going to flat-out beat you. That’s just the way it goes, but you don’t worry about it and get on with the next (game). When you don’t play hard, you have to look at yourself and say why and why didn’t we?”
Toronto will tinker with their lineup once again, swapping Eric Fehr for Dominic Moore to center the fourth line and inserting Connor Carrick for Calle Rosen.
Habs center Thomas Plekanec was absent from their morning skate with flu-like symptoms and will be a game-time decision.
Carey Price (who has won nine in a row vs. Toronto) will get the start for Montreal. The Hart Trophy winner has a 23-13-1 career record, 2.46 GAA and .924 save percentage in 36 starts against Toronto. Frederik Andersen will make his fifth consecutive start for the Leafs and has a career record of 1-3-1, 2.65 GAA and .909 save percentage vs. Montreal.
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The Toronto Marlies tasted defeat for the first time on Friday, losing 5-2 to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The game marked the season debut of center Frederik Gauthier, who suffered a leg injury in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs against Syracuse last May and made his return to the ice well ahead of schedule.
“I think just the fact that he is out there is a good sign. He put in the work through the summer to get back.” Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe said on Friday.
Toronto fell behind 3-0 midway through the second period and rallied with a pair of goals from Kasperi Kapanen and Vincent LoVerde early in the third, but could not tie the game.
The game marked the AHL debut of 2015 second rounder Jeremy Bracco and first game for defenseman Martin Marincin, who was waived and demoted to the Marlies last week. Goaltender Calvin Pickard backed up starter Garret Sparks against the Wolf Pack, and the newly acquired netminder will likely see action on Saturday against Providence or in Springfield on Sunday.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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