Canadiens Game 56: Dach Out, Allen Starts, Defence Call-Up

The Montreal Canadiens (23-28-4) visit the energized Toronto Maple Leafs (33-14-8) at the Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

After a decisive 6-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, the Canadiens will look to get back in the win column against their heated rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Keeping Pace

With injuries mounting and their rivals in the Eastern Conference loading up for playoff pushes, the rest of the way will not get any easier for the Habs.

Kirby Dach skated for a few minutes at practice and then immediately left for the dressing room. He will not be available for tonight’s game, due to an illness.

Justin Barron, who sustained an injury against the Coyotes, is seemingly good to go for tonight’s game.

However, due to the injury to Arber Xhekaj, the Canadiens proceeded to call up Corey Schueneman from the Laval Rocket, as they were travelling with only six defencemen on the roster.

Xhekaj is set to see a specialist for his shoulder before a final update is made on his return timetable.

Jake Allen will be getting the start tonight for the Canadiens. The veteran goaltender is coming off a 4-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, while posting a 0.895 save percentage and a 3.42 goals-against average.

If the Canadiens are going to have any hope of coming away with the victory in tonight’s game, they’ll need Allen to stand on his head yet again.

Toronto Going For It

The Toronto Maple Leafs decided to get a head start on their shopping before the NHL Trade Deadline by making a three-way trade to acquire Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari from the St-Louis Blues.

Everyone was wondering what general manager Kyle Dubas was going to do this trade season, as the Maple Leafs management group has begun to feel the heat of late for their early playoff exits.

They went out and got one of the biggest fish remaining in the rental market in O’Reilly, shoring up their top six and giving themselves even more flexibility in their lineup.

https://montreal.nationalhockeynow.com/2023/02/18/montreal-canadiens-gain-more-leverage-on-nhl-trade-market-habs/

Both O’Reilly and Acciari will be dressed in tonight’s game, giving the Maple Leafs an added boost of adrenaline as they receive their heated rivals at home for the first time this season.

With Matt Murray injured, the Maple Leafs have leaned heavily on Igoaltender Ilya Samsonov to hold the fort in his stead.

However, the 25-year-old goaltender is out with an illness, meaning rookie Joseph Woll will be starting in net for Toronto tonight.

This will be the 24-year-old’s fifth career game and second of the 2022-2023 season. In his lone game this season, Woll posted a 0.900 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average when he faced the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 11.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are clear favourites to win this game according to NHL Betting Odds, especially after Friday night’s late trade, posting a significant -430 on the money line.

Montreal Canadiens Injuries

• Kaiden Guhle (Injured Reserve)
• Joel Edmundson (Day-To-Day)
• Kirby Dach (Illness)
• Brendan Gallagher (Injured Reserve)
• Jake Evans (Injured Reserve)
• Arber Xhekaj (Injured, No Update)
• Juraj Slafkovsky (Injured Reserve)
• Cole Caufield (Injured Reserve)
• Sean Monahan (LTIR)
• Carey Price (LTIR)
• Paul Byron (LTIR)

Toronto Maple Leafs Injuries

• Jake Muzzin (LTIR)
• Nicholas Robertson (LTIR)
• Matt Murray (Injured Reserve)

Montreal Canadiens Previous Lineup

Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lineup

Bunting-Matthews-Nylander

O’Reilly-Tavares-Marner

Kerfoot-Kampf-Jarnkrok

Aston-Reece-Acciari-Engvall

Defence:

Reilly-Brodie

Giordano-Liljegren

Sandin-Holl

Goalies:

Woll

Kallgren

Special Teams

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