An exciting, skilled and young Leafs team is looking to inject some new life into the game’s oldest rivalry, which has been decidedly one-sided in recent years. The Leafs have been swept in the season series two years in a row and have lost ten consecutive to the Canadiens dating back to 2013-14, with their last win against Montreal coming back on January 18, 2014.
That is an ugly trend that a new-look Leafs team should be intent on reversing as soon as possible. It will be no easy feat, however, as the Canadiens enter the game white hot to start the year — they currently lead the league with 15 points and are the only team in the NHL yet to lose in regulation.