Maple Leafs at Canadiens
To say the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are evenly matched heading into their Original Six matchup at the Bell Centre on Saturday actually may be a bit of an understatement. The NHL's oldest rivals come into the game with identical records, and both are coming off extra-time 3-2 losses on the road a night earlier. Toronto dropped a controversial overtime decision in Buffalo, while the Canadiens are coming off a shootout defeat at the hands of Washington.
The loss to the Capitals ended Montreal's four-game winning streak, but the Canadiens still have points in five straight games and go into the final contest of November with a respectable 6-4-3 record for the month. Saturday kicks off a stretch that will see Montreal play five of its next six games at home. The Maple Leafs could use a little home cooking as they wrap up a three-game road trip Saturday following overtime losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sabres.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, RDS
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (14-9-3): Much has been made about Toronto's vaunted goaltending duo, but James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier have struggled to maintain their early-season form. The pair has been torched for 15 goals over the previous three games, a major reason why the Maple Leafs have earned just two points over that span. Reimer looked ordinary in the loss to the Sabres, turning aside 26 shots en route to his fourth loss in his last six games.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (14-9-3): Montreal doesn't share Toronto's present goaltending concerns, with Carey Price leading them to a sensational late-November stretch. Price, considered a prime candidate to dress for Team Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Russia, has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last five starts. He'll get the call against the Maple Leafs after backup Peter Budaj stopped 24 shots in Friday's loss.
OVERTIME
1. The teams have split the last 10 meetings, with the road team winning eight times over that span.
2. Price is 11-12-1 with a 2.69 goals-against average and three shutouts in 24 career games versus Toronto.
3. Toronto has gone beyond 60 minutes in three of its last four games.