(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs have not had a memorable season, but they can finish 2014-15 on a positive note with a win over the rival Montreal Canadiens in Saturday's meeting at Air Canada Centre.
The Maple Leafs are second from last in the Eastern Conference standings, but they could help spoil Montreal's division title chances on the final day of the regular season.
The Canadiens hold a two-point lead over Tampa Bay for first place in the Atlantic, but the Lightning, who close their schedule at home against Boston, would win the tiebreaker over Montreal if the clubs end up even in points.
Toronto also would like to avoid getting swept in the season series by the Canadiens, who are 3-0 against the Leafs in 2014-15 and have won five straight in this matchup. Montreal has won two in a row and six of its past eight trips to Air Canada Centre.
The Habs have won two straight and are coming off Thursday's overtime win against visiting Detroit. Despite the 4-3 loss, the Red Wings clinched a playoff berth for a 24th consecutive season after the game.
Montreal tied the Red Wings 3-3 on Tomas Plekanec's power-play goal with 8:21 left in the third period and Lars Eller scored 82 seconds into OT to deliver the win. Andrei Markov and Jeff Petry each posted a goal and an assist
Canadiens goaltender Carey Price made 24 saves for his team-record 43rd win this season to move ahead of Hall of Fame Canadiens goalies Jacques Plante and Ken Dryden, with whom he shared the previous record of 42 wins.
"I think our team is playing very well right now," Price said. "We were patient and pretty relentless all night."
Price will start again on Saturday and is 16-13-1 with a 2.58 goals against average in 30 career games against Toronto.
Montreal played on Thursday without scoring leader Max Pacioretty, who will miss the rest of the regular season with an upper-body injury. Pacioretty's status for the start of the playoffs is uncertain.
Toronto has lost three of its last four games and last played on Wednesday, when it was handed a 5-0 setback in Columbus. Sergei Bobrovsky made 35 saves to shut down the Maple Leafs' offense.
James Reimer allowed four goals on 20 shots, while Jonathan Bernier made 12 saves in relief for the Maple Leafs.
"Our team wasn't prepared to start the game and play the same way they were," Toronto interim head coach Peter Horachek said.
Bernier will start tonight and is 1-5-2 with a 3.11 GAA in eight career games versus the Canadiens.
Toronto is 22-17-1 as the host this season, while Montreal is 23-13-4 as the guest.
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