Montreal vs Toronto. David vs Goliath. A Tale Of Two Cities. Two original six teams that are preparing for their biggest battle since 1979. I don’t think there’s been a more anticipated matchup in this year’s playoffs than this one, and it seems like both the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs are going to demolish one another to deliver just that.
On paper, Montreal looks outmatched to Toronto’s talent, skill and aggressiveness, but they have experience, speed and physicality that will want to shut down Toronto’s big guns. Toronto has not made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2004, and Montreal will try and continue that streak. The one key thing both teams will be tested on is heart, and who has more of it, because that is what will matter at the end of this series. Of course, offence and defence will be measured too, but it’s the heart and guts of every player who will be willing to sacrifice everything to win and move on.There will absolutely be intimidation on both sides. Carey Price, Shea Weber, Brendan Gallagher, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares. These are the names will be hearing a lot of in this matchup.
Montreal seems to be back at full strength, aside from Jonathan Drouin, who’s been out of the lineup indefinitely for personal reasons. Toronto is at full health as well, so the main question is, who wins and moves on? If you ask me, I’m saying Habs in 6 and why.
MONTREAL HAS THE EDGE IN GOAL:
With Carey Price facing Jack Campbell, who has never been in the playoffs his whole career, played very well during the season, but he has no idea what the playoffs are like in-game, whereas Price is the complete opposite. Granted, Price has been injured for half the season, and did not play for the past month due to a concussion, but he looks ready to roll. If Price is locked in mentally, nothing will get past him!
MONTREAL TOP 4 DEFENCE WHEN HEALTHY IS VERY GOOD:
Toronto matches up pretty good, but the experience of Weber, Chiarot, Edmundson and Petry beat the top 4 of Morgan Rielly, TJ Brodie, Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl. If the Montreal defense can bring the physicality to Toronto’s forwards, and disrupt their rhythm offensively, Toronto will have a hard time scoring on playoff Price.
FORWARDS CAN GET IT DONE IN DIFFERENT WAYS:
Now, forwards is the biggest if for both sides, because they possess excellent top 9 forward groups mixed with skill, grit, youth and experience. Both can roll 4 lines deep that can score, hit, and really get under the skin of their opponents. Toronto will rely heavily on their top 6 talent group to expose Montreal’s slow defence, while Montreal will use their speed and counterattack to expose Toronto’s aggressiveness up the ice. In the end, Toronto has the better forward group, so they have the edge in that aspect, but Montreal will look to get it done in different ways, whether from garbage goals to off the rush, they can do it in a number of ways that can surprise the Leafs for sure.
I still think Montreal wins in 6, if Carey Price can play like he did last year in the bubble, and the defence really attack Toronto’s forwards physically, and if players like Toffoli, Anderson, Perry and Staal can give the Habs an extra push offensively and bring that Stanley Cup experience. One thing is certain: IT’S GOING TO BE A BLOODBATH!! Hope you’re ready for it everyone!
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