Gameday Preview: Leafs vs Canadiens

After a brief stumble in their last few games before the Christmas break, Toronto should have no problem getting up for tonight’s game against the hated Montreal Canadiens. It will be the Habs’ last trip to Toronto of 2009, marking the final time the two rivals will play in Montreal’s 100th year of existence. The Leafs will look to even the season series at 2-2 tonight, after shutting out the Canadiens in Montreal in the first game of December.

Montreal has been on a bit of a hot streak lately, buoyed by the return of star defenseman Andrei Markov. Markov has four points in the last three games, after missing every game since suffering an ankle injury on Opening Night in Toronto. His return couldn’t come at a better time for Montreal, who is in the middle of a 7 game road trip to close out 2009. The Habs have won the first three games of that road trip, helping them pull away from the Buds, who have gone 1-3-1 in their last five after starting the month of December 6-2-0.

The Leafs’ latest loss came on Wednesday night on Long Island, as the Leafs struggled to get any offense going after coming out flat in the first two periods. They will need to turn in a much better effort against Montreal, who comes into Toronto with a league-best powerplay that has converted nearly 1 in every 4 chances this season. Not a particularly appealing matchup for Ron Wilson and the boys, who have the league’s worst penalty kill, killing off just over 72% of their penalties.

In net, Jaroslav Halak has been the golden boy in Montreal as of late, allowing only 4 goals in the last three games. Jonas Gustavsson has played fairly well for the Leafs in his last three games since returning from heart surgery, giving up only 5 goals in his last three games.

Toronto should get Viktor Stalberg back in the lineup tonight, and hopefully the speedy youngster can continue the success he saw before he suffered a minor shoulder injury. Phil Kessel is still battling through a minor slump, having gone pointless in his last four games. Nik Hagman scored his first goal in five games against New York on Wednesday, so here’s hoping that Toronto’s leading goal scorer can get back to his early season form.

Puck drops at 7 tonight on a busy Saturday night in the NHL.  The Leafs have a chance to make up some ground in the division tonight, as Ottawa and Buffalo clash at the HSBC Arena as well, meaning a Leafs win would pull them closer to Montreal and either the Sens or Sabres.