Overview
- Montreal hosts Toronto at 7:00 pm ET at Centre Bell, with the Canadiens 10-7-3 and the Maple Leafs 9-9-3.
- Jakub Dobes gets the nod for Montreal after an 8-4 loss to Washington, while Joseph Woll is confirmed for Toronto.
- The Canadiens carry a five-game skid with 27 goals allowed, and the Maple Leafs have dropped six of their past seven.
- Rookie Florian Xhekaj is slated for his NHL debut on Montreal’s third line alongside Jake Evans and Josh Anderson, with Joshua Roy a healthy scratch.
- Toronto remains short-handed, with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies out and multiple regulars on injured reserve, as the trip opens a stretch away from home.