LGD: Creatures of Hab-it

Photo credit:John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

5 years ago

GOOOOOOD MORNING Toronto, and good morning to Leafs fans everywhere.

It’s finally a Leafs Game Day. And this one counts!

The Leafs kick off the 2018-19 season tonight at the newly christened Scotiabank Arena. Their opponents? The Montreal Canadiens.

Tonight’s matchup is a tale of two teams. The Canadiens have been on a downward spiral for well over a year now, while the Leafs look to continue their ascent up the league’s hierarchy with another impressive campaign.

Team	2017-18 Record	Points	Standings
Toronto Maple Leafs	49-26-7	105	3rd in Atlantic Division
Montreal Canadiens	29-40-13	71	6th in Atlantic Division

Last season was one the Canadiens would like to forget. Unfortunately for them, this season doesn’t seem like it’ll bring much more promise as things get started.

The Leafs, on the other hand, will see what their slightly new-look lineup can accomplish in the regular season. Will it be enough to improve on their franchise-best 105 point finish in 2017-18? We shall see.

Leafs Lines

LW	C	RW	Forwards
ZACH HYMAN Rating: 71.8#73 LW	JOHN TAVARES Rating: 78.6#24 C	MITCH MARNER Rating: 76.4#26 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 75.61#23 FL1
PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 75.1#31 LW	AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 81.6#8 C	TYLER ENNIS Rating: 70.0#112 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 75.56#11 FL2
JOSH LEIVO Rating: 72.6#53 LW	NAZEM KADRI Rating: 77.6#28 C	CONNOR BROWN Rating: 70.5#99 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 73.57#7 FL3
ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 72.6#51 LW	PAR LINDHOLM	KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 69.9#107 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 71.27#8 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS		Defense
MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 76.0#19 LD	RON HAINSEY Rating: 72.4#53 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 74.19#22 DL1
JAKE GARDINER Rating: 76.2#18 LD	NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 72.5#50 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 74.36#11 DL2
TRAVIS DERMOTT Rating: 72.2#63 LD	IGOR OZHIGANOV	DL3 Rating Rating: 72.17#11 DL3

John Tavares, Tyler Ennis, Par Lindholm and Igor Ozhiganov all make their official Toronto Maple Leafs debuts tonight. Ennis is coming off an impressive pre-season in which he looked like a viable short-time replacement for the still-unsigned William Nylander, while Par Lindholm looked very much like a 4th line center capable of thriving in his 30 seconds of ice time per night.

Also of note: Josh Leivo has cracked the opening night roster. It’s tough to read too much into it given the Nylander situation, but hey – ice time is ice time for Josh.

Canadiens Lines (UPDATED 12:00pm)

LW	C	RW	Forwards
TOMAS TATAR Rating: 72.7#49 LW	PHILLIP DANAULT Rating: 72.6#81 C	BRENDAN GALLAGHER Rating: 77.2#18 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 74.17#29 FL1
JONATHAN DROUIN Rating: 75.3#29 LW	JESPERI KOTKANIEMI	JOEL ARMIA Rating: 72.0#76 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 73.64#19 FL2
PAUL BYRON Rating: 74.3#52 LW	MAX DOMI Rating: 73.7#63 C	ARTTURI LEHKONEN Rating: 73.8#40 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 73.93#5 FL3
CHARLES HUDON Rating: 71.8#72 LW	MATTHEW PECA Rating: 72.6#85 C	ANDREW SHAW Rating: 71.5#80 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 71.96#2 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS		Defense
VICTOR METE Rating: 70.7#101 LD	JEFF PETRY Rating: 76.6#17 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 73.63#23 DL1
MIKE REILLY Rating: 70.5#105 LD	NOAH JUULSEN Rating: 72.0#61 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 71.24#26 DL2
KARL ALZNER Rating: 70.9#98 LD	JORDIE BENN Rating: 70.8#100 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 70.82#22 DL3

No Tomas Plekanec, meaning he won’t get a shot to face his former team tonight.

Also:

Not clear who’s slotting into his place yet. We shall see.

Assuming Jesperi Kotkaniemi is in the Habs lineup next Wednesday, he will become the first athlete born in the 2000s to play in one of the Big 4 North American professional sports leagues. #NHL

— Simon Boisvert (@simonsnake70) September 28, 2018

The Habs can kick rocks, but this is one damn cool stat. Congrats to the 3rd overall pick on cracking the Habs roster out of camp.

No Shea Weber for the Montreal tonight. The Canadiens captain will be out for 5-6 months after knee surgery. At least Weber’s issues are physical and not character-related, though.