In what was billed as the most important game between the the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in years, the two teams did not disappoint. The Habs entered the game with 13 straight wins over their rivals, but had been floundering recently, winning just two of their previous 10 games, and getting shut out in four of those.
Montreal went into the game just four points up on the Leafs in the Atlantic Division, and with the Leafs holding a game in hand, this one looked to be a key matchup for the division standings.