PRELUDE TO A TEST

With all the hype around the recent trade deadline, maybe some of us fell asleep regarding just how tight the 4 playoff teams in the Atlantic Division had become. Earlier today, both Boston and Tampa Bay won to keep the peddle to the metal in that regard.  The other two pieces of the puzzle, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers both had 7 pm starts vs Montreal and Ottawa respectively.  Going in, Florida led the division with 92 points, followed by Boston (87) and Tampa (86) following their wins today and the Leafs held down the Wild Card spot with 85 points.

Always a great confrontation, the Canadiens/Leafs contest is so unpredictable.  Montreal lost a close one to Florida (4-3) on Thursday and have won only 2 of 8 with a couple of ties.  They will be without Jeff Petry, Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin.  Nick Suzuki has been leading the way with 18g, 29a and 47 points.  They are the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs after going to the Stanley Cup final just a season ago.

Can you top the atmosphere inside the Bell Centre when the Leafs/Canadiens play there on a Saturday night ?  I have GOT to add that to my bucket list !  Not to disappoint, Austin Mathews scored his 47^th (ties career high) at the 36 second mark from Michael Bunting (career high 50^th point) and Mitchell Marner (70^th point).  The Toronto club seemed to be firing on all cylinders throughout the first – out shooting Montreal 12 to 4 and out chancing them 18 to 6.

Things change.  As the Leafs took a collective nap (especially the Tavares line), Montreal got a second wind and pretty much dominated the second period.  Defenseman David Savard, just off injured reserve scored on a nice cross ice feed to beat Nylander and tie things up.   Goalie Jake Alan continued his strong play from the other night as Toronto could not muster up any serious chances.  Cole Caulfield scored on the second Habs PP in a row to put his club ahead 2-1 after two.

Nylander got out of the doghouse with his 24^th on a nice PPG from Marner and Tavares early in the third to tie things up.  Huge saves at both ends kept things close.  Despite the Leafs out shooting the home squad 51 to 18, Paul Byron made a nice steal to make it 3–2 and then Dvorak put in the empty netter for a final 4 to 2 score.

HOPPER NOTES:  Nice job on our Anthem in Cree, French and English pre-game…didn’t see it – but if Jake Allen wasn’t first star call the Cops…that Lubushkin is rockin’ up my top 10 chart…MAN, can that Mickaev skate…come playoff time, can you imagine Rielly & Lubushkin / Giardano & Brodie and Muzzin & Holl ?

Cheers – never forget the people who got you here….they are your saviour !