Canadiens at Maple Leafs
The rivalry between Montreal and Toronto has been decidedly tilted over the years, with the Canadiens entering this season riding a 14-game winning streak over the Maple Leafs. Toronto has turned the tables in 2017-18, winning both matchups in Montreal, and looks to make it three in a row over the visiting Canadiens on Saturday night.
Despite the absence of star forward Auston Matthews, who has been sidelined for the past eight games, the Maple Leafs have won three in a row and are 14 points clear of Florida for third place in the Atlantic Division. Toronto has been spectacular at the Air Canada Centre, winning a franchise-record 11 consecutive home games since the All-Star break. While the Maple Leafs are all but assured of the playoffs, the Canadiens trail their Original Six rival by a whopping 27 points in the division. Playing without injured captain Max Pacioretty, Montreal has lost six of its last seven after coughing up an early two-goal lead in Thursday's 5-3 home loss to Pittsburgh.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (26-33-12): Carey Price has been sidelined for nearly a month due to a concussion, but he practiced Friday for the first time since he was hurt on Feb. 20 and will accompany the team to Toronto, although he won't start. "Whenever you start coming back from an injury it's all about getting reconditioned," Price said. "I would like to finish the season strong, obviously, and end it on a positive note." Charlie Lindgren, who has allowed 16 goals in losing his last three starts, will be in net Saturday.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (42-22-7): With No. 1 netminder Frederik Andersen dealing with an upper-body injury, Curtis McElhinney could get the nod after improving to 6-0-1 in his last eight appearances with a 38-save effort at Buffalo on Thursday. James van Riemsdyk is taking care of the offense, erupting for five goals over the past two games to establish a career best with 31 tallies -- the second 30-goal season of his career. Forward Leo Komarov was injured in Thursday's victory and expected to have an MRI exam on Friday.
OVERTIME
1. Toronto is 6-for-8 on the power play over the past four games.
2. Canadiens F Alex Galchenyuk has 10 points in nine games, including two in each of the past two contests.
3. Maple Leafs F Patrick Marleau has scored in three straight games.