Habs vs. Leafs Round Two

‘Hello Canada...” – the staple introduction of HOF broadcaster Foster Hewitt who brought thousands of Canadians (and even border city Americans) to their radios on a Saturday night back in the Original Six era of the NHL.
 

And the matchup in question? The long heated rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Montreal leads the head-to-head series at 322-268-88-5.
 

So let’s fast forward to tonight. While one can still get a radio broadcast, the arrival of HDTV, online up to the minute stats feeds, blogs and the rest make some feel as though the magic of the old days is gone.

But with this rivalry, the magic never ends.
 

It will be the first meeting of these teams in Montreal this season where the Habs will look to even the series up at 1 apiece after losing the first game 4-3 in OT. Gloat all you want Leaf fans, but it was a game the Canadiens beat themselves in.
 

After pretty much every trade magazine and television preview predicted another no playoff season, coach Guy Carbonneau’s team currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 7-2-3 record and proving they can take on the best in the conference with wins over Carolina, Pittsburgh and what many feel was their best all around game of the year, a 5-2 thumping of the Philadelphia Flyers.
 

Alex Kovalev is playing like the player he is capable of being and leads the Habs with 7 goals while captain Saku Koivu dealt with off ice language issues by showing why he wears the C, earning the #1 star Thursday and leads the team overall in scoring.
 

What was felt would be an ineffective power play with the loss of blue liner Sheldon Souray to free agency currently leads the league and their defense is much improved over last year anchored by Mike Komisarek, Roman Hamrlik and Andrei Markov. Between the pipes, Cristobal Huet is playing at all-star level and rookie Carey Price has shown he has what it takes to be the next franchise goalie after winning the Molson Cup trophy segment for October.
 

The Maple Leafs (5-5-3) are on a two game skid after losing last night 3-2 to the Devils. Captain Mats Sundin leads one of the top offences in the league but it’s their defensive woes that continue to plague them with a shorthanded goal, and a defensive giveaway last night and a 7-1 slapping from the Capitals on Monday.
 

Despite having one of the best offences, their PP is one of the worst (27th) and has allowed 3 short handed goals
 

Leafs’coach Paul Maurice looked rather flustered after Friday’s game and sounded like it was back to the drawing board time with special teams. But is trying something different less than 24hrs before playing their biggest rival on the road a good strategy? A loss tonight and maybe he shouldn’t be buying any fruit or vegetables that he plans to eat later on.
 

Best advice for the Leafs is to avoid the penalty box altogether. If they take bad penalties, this could be over in the first period.
 

Best advice for the Habs is to paly a full 60 minutes and contain Sundin. Komisarek took an uncalled stick to the face from him last meeting so he will be on him I’m certain.
 

Game time : 7pm EST
 

Injuries:

Montreal; Bouillon (shoulder)  DTD, Murray (Broken Ankle) DTD

Leafs: Tucker (Knee), Wellwood (Hernia), Colaiacovo (Knee) all on IR. McCabe (Groin), Devereaux (Upper Body), Ponikarovsky (Ankle) are listed as day to day