Toronto Maple Leafs lineup tonight vs Montreal

The Toronto Maple Leafs lineup tonight vs Montreal brings plenty of drama. Dennis Hildeby starts in goal while Auston Matthews returns from injury, setting up an exciting matchup against the rival Canadiens. The Leafs need this win to stay competitive in the Atlantic Division, and honestly, it's going to be a good one.

Who's playing for the Leafs tonight

Toronto rolls out three solid forward lines despite missing key players. The top line features Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, and Max Domi your offensive engine for the night. John Tavares centers the second line with Easton Cowan and William Nylander alongside him.

The third line has Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, and Bobby McMann. Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton, and Nick Robertson round out the fourth unit. On defense, Morgan Rielly pairs with Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the top pairing, while Jake McCabe skates with Troy Stecher. Simon Benoit and Philippe Myers complete the blue line (they've got their work cut out for them).

Dennis Hildeby starts between the pipes with Artur Akhtyamov backing him up. The Leafs are dealing with major injurys Joseph Woll, Anthony Stolarz, and Brandon Carlo all sit out. Chris Tanev remains sidelined on long-term injured reserve, awaiting a decision on potential surgery.

What to watch for in this game

Keep your eyes on the Matthews-Knies-Domi line. These three create scoring chances constantly and need to generate goals against Montreal's defense. Special teams will matter hugely both the power play and penalty kill units must stay sharp.

Hildeby's performance is critical to monitor. The young goaltender carries extra pressure with two starters injured. How he handles Montreal's attacks will determine if Toronto can pull out the win.

Montreal brings serious offensive threats in Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Alex Slafkovsky. These guys scored in the teams' last meeting, so defensive matchups need focus. Watch for the Leafs' defensemen to limit grade-A scoring chances and keep Montreal's skilled forwards from getting comfortable.

Why this game matters for the Leafs

The Atlantic Division race stays tight, and every game counts for playoff positioning. Toronto lost to Montreal 2-1 in a shootout recently that stings and gives the Leafs extra motivation. A win tonight puts them back on track.

Injuries have tested Toronto's lineup depth significantly. The Leafs must win games with younger players stepping into bigger roles. Tonight shows whether the depth can hold up when stars return from injury.

Tanev's long-term status remains uncertain, which complicates the defense picture moving forward. If surgery becomes necessary, the Leafs need to adjust their depth planning. Starting strong against Montreal sends a message that injuries won't derail Toronto's season.