3 least impressive Montreal Canadiens players from 7-3 loss to Toronto Maple Leafs feat. Sam Montembeault 

The Montreal Canadiens entered Saturday night's tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs having won nine of their last 11 games and making their most staunch doubters believe that this could be the year they return to the postseason.

Despite a perfect start for the host Canadiens, things completely fell apart for them after the first period. The Maple Leafs scored seven unanswered goals after the Habs took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission, winning 7-3.

The win improved the Maple Leafs to 29-16-2, while the Habs fell to 22-19-4. The Canadiens initially led 3-0 after 20 minutes, thanks to goals from Josh Anderson, Patrik Laine, and Kirby Dach.

While Montreal seemed in a perfect position to cruise to another win, the Maple Leafs had other plans. They fought their way back into the game and cut the lead to one by the second intermission thanks to goals from Bobby McMann and Nicholas Robertson, setting up a tense third period.

The third was nothing short of an offensive clinic by the Leafs, who got goals from William Nylander, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Auston Matthews, Steven Lorentz, and David Kampf; the final goal was scored into Montreal's vacated net.

Sam Montembeault was not at his best, making 27 saves on 33 shots against; meanwhile, the Leafs got 32 saves from Joseph Woll.

3 least impressive Montreal Canadiens players from a 7-3 loss to Toronto Maple Leafs

#1. Sam Montembeault

The Canadiens have been getting very good goaltending from the tandem of Montembeault and rookie Jakub Dobes, who supplanted Cayden Primeau as the Habs' backup.

However, the issues that plagued Montembeault earlier this season returned on Saturday night. He resembled a block of Swiss cheese than the rock-solid goaltender that the Habs had grown to rely on the last several weeks.

#2. Lane Hutson

The young Canadiens defenseman has put himself firmly into the Rookie of the Year discussion, but Saturday night was a game that he'll want to forget ASAP.

He finished with a team-worst -5 rating, the worst of his young career; he also took an ill-advised trip to the penalty box and committed a giveaway.

#3. David Savard

Another Canadiens defenseman who struggled throughout the night, Savard finished with a -2 rating and didn't factor into the scoring for his club.

The future of Savard with the Habs is up in the air; he wants a new contract, but with performances like Saturday's, he'll have to hope that he doesn't repeat it.