Montréal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs Picks and Predictions January 18th 2025

Cruising Canadiens Ready to Renew Rivalry with Maple Leafs

The Montreal Canadiens, riding a wave of momentum, return home to the Bell Centre for a high-stakes clash against their historic rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Saturday night. With Montreal playing their best hockey of the season and Toronto looking to build off a much-needed overtime win, this Original Six matchup promises to deliver drama, intensity, and high-caliber play.

Canadiens: Finding Form and Confidence

Montreal’s impressive stretch of form includes points in six straight games (5-0-1), capped by a solid 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday. The Canadiens have been thriving thanks to contributions from both seasoned players and emerging stars.

Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes has been a revelation, securing four wins in as many starts and providing stability in net. Meanwhile, defenseman Lane Hutson continues to dazzle, extending his point streak to six games with an assist against Dallas. Hutson, who leads all rookies with 36 points this season, is rapidly establishing himself as a cornerstone of Montreal’s future.

Coach Martin St. Louis attributes the team’s success to a collective mindset. “I think we have a big buy-in, more than just what is good for (individuals). It becomes contagious,” St. Louis remarked, emphasizing the importance of team unity.

Montreal’s recent defensive improvements have been key. After struggling with goals against early in the season, the Canadiens have allowed four or more goals only twice in their last ten games. This newfound discipline, combined with offensive depth, has propelled them to an 11-2-1 record in their last 14 contests.

Maple Leafs: Overcoming Adversity

The Maple Leafs enter Saturday’s game with renewed energy following a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory against the New Jersey Devils. William Nylander stole the show with two goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak.

Nylander, now the team’s leading scorer with 26 goals, credited the team’s hard work for their resurgence. “We gained our momentum…started getting more high-quality scoring chances,” he said after Thursday’s game.

Toronto’s star-studded lineup was on full display as Auston Matthews added two goals and Mitch Marner contributed two assists, including the setup for Nylander’s overtime winner. Despite these standout performances, the team is navigating adversity with captain John Tavares sidelined week-to-week due to a lower-body injury.

Goaltender Joseph Woll has stepped up admirably in the absence of Anthony Stolarz, who has been out since December. Woll, with seven starts in the last nine games, is becoming a reliable presence between the pipes for the Leafs.

High Stakes and Historic Rivalry

Saturday’s game marks the latest chapter in the storied rivalry between these two Original Six franchises. While Toronto has won seven of the last ten meetings (7-2-1), Montreal’s current form and home-ice advantage make this matchup anything but predictable.

For the Canadiens, the game offers an opportunity to solidify their defensive resurgence and test themselves against one of the league’s most talented teams. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, will look to sustain their momentum and prove they can overcome the absence of Tavares.

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Keys to the Game

Montreal’s success will hinge on maintaining their disciplined play and capitalizing on the contributions of their young stars like Lane Hutson and Jakub Dobes. Toronto, on the other hand, must rely on their offensive core—Nylander, Matthews, and Marner—to exploit any lapses in the Canadiens’ defense.

As these rivals face off once again, the stakes are high for both teams. Will the Canadiens extend their point streak, or will the Maple Leafs spoil their homecoming? The stage is set for a thrilling battle in Montreal.