The Montreal Canadiens (40-16-5) will have to battle their demons with lower-ranked teams again tonight as they take on an under-performing Toronto Maple Leafs (25-31-5) tonight at the Bell Center (7:00 p.m.)

Just after Christmas the Leafs had 43 points, just three points fewer than the Canadiens. Since then the Leafs have only added 12 points. Their 55 points now trails the Habs by 30 points.

Although the Habs have lost only 16 games in regulation time this season, almost half of those losses have been against teams far lower in the standings: Ottawa twice, Buffalo twice, Arizona, Dallas, Edmonton.

However the Canadiens have beaten the Leafs in their two previous contests. Tomas Plekanec scored twice as Montreal won the season-opener 4-3 in Toronto on October 8. The Canadiens beat the Leafs again on Valentine's Day in a 2-1 shootout. The two teams will play again in the Habs' final regular-season game.

P.K. Subban is coming off a three point effort in a 5-2 victory in Columbus. It was his his fourth three point game of the season and brings him to 47 points, only one less than defence scoring leader Mark Giordano.

Jacob De La Rose, the 19-year-old rookie from Arkiva, a town of 14,000 known for being Sweden’s only inland fjord, scored twice against the Blue Jackets, his first-two NHL markers, to give him three points in a dozen games.

A buoyant Subban - who was once admonished as a rookie by veteran Scott Gomez for overcelebrating after a goal - was asked why the 19-year-old Swedish rookie didn't appear more jubilant after notching his first pair.

"After he scores he's so pretty he doesn't have to celebrate. He just has to smile and everybody's going to 'ahhh.' He's a good looking guy," laughed P.K. Subban.

Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau is not expected to suit up for the Canadiens even though he has been cleared to play.

Sergei Gonchar is expected to return from an upper body injury suffered two weeks ago on a David Clarkson hit.

His replacement Jarred Tinordi was sent down to the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs after the 5-2 win in Columbus along with Christian Thomas. Tinordi played a role last night in the Bulldogs' 4-0 victory over the Charlotte Checkers.

Devante Smith-Pelly will play in his second game for the Canadiens and Coach Michel Therrien urged fans to be patient with his progress.

"With this schedule, it’s hard to get quality practices. We haven’t had time work with him on ice. We’re working with him a lot with video to show him our structure. It will come with time. It will become second nature,” said Therrien.

Although the Leafs have not won many games lately, fans were energized by the acquisition of the chronically-injured Nathan Horton for David Clarkson, a deal that will free up more cap space to attract and maintain talent.

Carey Price is expected to start for the Canadiens. Price leads the league with 1.92 GAA, a .935 Save Percentage and is tied with Pekka Rinne for the league lead with 35 wins, three short of his career high set in 2010-11.