Hockey Day in Canada 2015: Date, TV Schedule and Preview

One of the best traditions in sports is Hockey Day in Canada, and the 2015 edition of the celebration will take place on Saturday, February 14 in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Presented by the CBC, the event first took place in 2000 and is a celebration of the country’s rich hockey tradition. There are many events that take place on that day across Canada, but the day is centered around the NFL action on the schedule.

Here is all the vital viewing information needed to enjoy the Canadian tradition and a preview of the best game of the day.

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
Edmonton Oilers at Ottawa Senators	2 p.m.	CBC
Winnipeg Jets at Detroit Red Wings	7 p.m.	CBC
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens	7 p.m.	CBC
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche	9 p.m.	CBC
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames	10 p.m.	CBC

Matchup of the Day: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens

Hockey Day in Canada will be hosted by Ron MacLean and will feature appearances from fan favorites like Don Cherry and more, but the biggest moment will come when the Toronto Maple Leafs square off against the Montreal Canadiens.

Since the first meeting between these two franchises in 1917, the Maple Leafs and Canadiens have played each other 788 times in the regular season and the playoffs. Montreal leads the overall series, 385-315-88, via Canadiens.com.

Not only is the rivalry between Toronto and Montreal fierce on the ice, but it is also a geographical battle within Canada between the two largest cities. With much of the country divided in the matchup, meetings between the two teams are always highly anticipated.

The excitement for the game and the entire Hockey Day in Canada has spilled over into the host city of Halifax. Mayor Mike Savage told SportsNet.ca:

"

This is fantastic news for hockey-mad Halifax. With locally-grown heroes like Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby, and championship teams like the Halifax Mooseheads, Halifax is a natural home for Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada. We’re extremely proud to host an event which celebrates Canada’s game and showcases our contribution to its bright future.

"

As well as Montreal and Toronto have played at points in this rivalry, the Canadiens have been dominant lately. After winning the opening game of the season against the Maple Leafs, the Habs have gone on to amass an impressive 35-15-3 overall record.

On the other hand, Toronto is struggling with a 23-28-4 overall record.

Montreal has the clear advantage in Saturday’s matchup, and much of the credit goes to goaltender Carey Price. As one of the most reliable goalies in the NHL, the Canadiens have dominated the first half of the season with his help.

The Maple Leafs will not go down quietly, though, as the duo of Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk has emerged as a dangerous combination. Regardless of whether Jonathan Bernier or James Reimer gets the start in net during this rivalry matchup, the goaltender who sees action will be expected to deliver an elite performance against a stacked Montreal offensive unit.

This rivalry may have been great in the past, but Montreal will utterly dominate Toronto on Hockey Day in Canada.

Predicted Final Score: Montreal 4, Toronto 2

*Stats via NHL.com.

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