Here are the expected lines for the Canadiens tonight:
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Dach-Armia
Barré-Boulet-Dvorak-Anderson
Heineman-Evans-Gallagher
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron
Montembeault
Primeau
Here are the expected lines for the Leafs:
Knies-Matthews-Marner
Domi-Tavares-Nylander
Pacioretty-Holmberg-Robertson
Lorentz-Kampf-Reaves
Rielly-Tanev
Ekman-Larsson-McCabe
Benoit-Timmins
Stolarz
Hildeby
The Leafs are without starting goaltender Joseph Woll, who is dealing with a back injury. Anthony Stolarz gets the start and has put up decent numbers in his NHL career, posting a .915 save percentage and a 43-31-9 win-loss record over seven seasons.
The Canadiens entered the whole opener with a couple of crucial injuries. Patrick Laine, their primary off-season acquisition, is out for at least two months with a severe knee sprain, and Jayden Struble is dealing with an unknown injury that kept him out of the last few practices.
The Canadiens’ record in openers over the past decade has been solid, considering they played all but one contest on the road. They were 5-3-2. In the past four seasons, they have opened with the Leafs and were 1-1-2 despite three of them being in Toronto.
Samuel Montembeault will be making his first career opening-night start. He’s 49-60-21 with a .898 save percentage. and 3.38 GAA in 144 NHL appearances. His career record versus Toronto is 2-5.
