"The first period is huge for us tonight. We have to come out and make a statement. That doesn't mean we run around and try to run them out of the building. It is just about playing hard, finishing checks, and playing the simple game we played on the road. We can't change it up just because the opponent plays a different style. If we stick to our game and what we do best, it is the recipe for success."
"Their skill and speed are as good as anybody in the league, not just up front but on the backend as well. We know how dynamic they can be. They have been building for a number of years. They had a great year last year, and they are proving to be a really, really good team. They always present the challenge of being aware of their ability to create plays, create offense, and how they get so many people involved in the attack."
The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens at 7:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet/CBC and will play without goaltender Joseph Woll. The team prioritizes a strong first period, finishing checks, playing hard, and sticking to a simple game that worked on the road. Defensive F3 tracking and placing pucks in the right spots are emphasized against Montreal's different tendencies. The Canadiens bring speed, skill, seam passing, and physical players who involve many attackers. Awareness and smart play with and away from the puck will be important. A 4-1-0 road trip has created a renewed team feeling.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]