What better way to start the 2015-16 NHL Season than a huge rivalry game? The Montreal Canadiens head to the road to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the hostile Air Canada Centre. Can the Habs get to a fast start this season after winning three of the past four Atlantic Division titles? Or will the Maple Leafs pull off quite an upset to start their rebuilding phase?
Read on for everything you need to know when the puck drops to start the hockey season. Get in on opening day’s biggest matchups with our complete previews for the Rangers vs. Blackhawks and Sharks vs. Kings.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Preview
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto
When: Wednesday, October 7, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs – view all NHL lines
Betting on the Montreal Canadiens
With arguably the best goaltender between the pipes, the Montreal Canadiens have high hopes for a second consecutive Atlantic Division title—plus a deeper playoff run. Carey Price is back after an impressive 2014-15 run leading the NHL in save percentage (.933), goals-against average (1.96) and wins (44).
[sc:NHL240 ]Price’s stellar performance gave him awards aplenty, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best netminder, the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP and the Ted Lindsay Award for the most outstanding player of the season. He should be poised to start this season red hot against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Price has posted a 1.94 GAA in his last five starts against the Leafs, all victories.
Defense isn’t a problem for the Habs especially with Price as their netminder. What killed them in last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinal was their anemic offense. They managed to score a measly two goals or less in a six-game series loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Habs made sure to address their offensive issues this offseason, bringing in right wing Alex Semin from Carolina and forward Zack Kassian from Vancouver. But Kassian is currently suspended without pay after entering a substance abuse program. Tomas Fleischmann also made his way to Montreal to give the Habs a support on offense. Fleischmann finished with 27 points in 52 games last season playing for Florida then Anaheim later on.
Leading Montreal’s offense will be captain Max Pacioretty who led the team with 37 goals last season. Pacioretty was solid against the Leafs last season, scoring three points (one goal and two assists) in three matchups.
Pacioretty will get plenty of help from the Habs’ stellar defenseman in P.K. Subban. Montreal’s blue liner set career-highs of 15 goals, 45 assists, 60 points and a plus/minus of 21 last year. Considering Subban continues his upward trajectory, then the Habs can expect plenty more from him this season.
Montreal has won its last six matchups against the Leafs, including sweeping all four meetings last season.
Betting on the Toronto Maple Leafs
It’s rebuilding time for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who missed out on the playoffs in nine of the last 10 seasons. The burden of rebuilding the team falls on Hall of Famer Lou Lamorello’s shoulders, who took on the mantle as the Leafs’ general manager in the offseason.
The Leafs also welcome a new head coach in Mike Babcock, who was solid in his 10 years of coaching the Detroit Red Wings. Under Babcock’s direction, the Red Wings posted a .649 winning percentage and won a Stanley Cup.
With Phil Kessel now in Pittsburgh, Toronto will build around center Nazem Kadri and defensemen Morgan Reilly, Jake Gardiner and Dion Phaneuf. Kadri finished fourth on the team with 18 goals to go with 21 assists last season.
Toronto’s offense won’t fall all on Kadri’s shoulders. He’ll have some support in Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk. Bozak finished with a solid 49 points last season (23 goals, 26 assists), while van Riemsdyk scored a team-high 27 goals. Bozak had the most success against Montreal last season, scoring two goals and assisting in another in four matchups. He should help carry the offensive load with Kessel gone.
The Leafs’ goaltending is a concern though. Starter Jonathan Bernier was pretty disappointing in the preseason, posting a 3.17 GAA and .882 save percentage in four games. He was 0-2-2 with a 2.67 GAA and .908 save percentage in four games against Montreal last season. Considering that three of the four matchups last year were decided by one goal, Bernier should be solid against the Leafs’ heated divisional rival.
The total has gone under in four of Bernier’s last five starts at Air Canada Centre.
Writer’s Prediction
The Habs start fast and strong, taking a 3-1 victory at Toronto. Create a betting account now as puck drop inches closer and closer.
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