Welcome to the preview written in a haze of Benylin and Advil Cold & Sinus, mixed with some caffeine and a lack of food. If any of this makes sense then you're welcome.
Nashville is in town for their second and final game of the season vs the Maple Leafs. The last time these two played was back in November, when the Maple Leafs squeaked out a win in a shootout.
Former Leaf Petter Granberg suits up against the Leafs after being claimed off waivers by the Predators. Nashville is a team in the playoff hunt, currently sitting in the 1st wild card position in the Western Conference. They're only three points up on the first non-playoff team in the west, so they'll be coming out guns a blazing...
...which won't be an issue against a Maple Leafs team that is full of injured players, at the same time as being slowly dismantled. Brendan Leipsic and Stuart Percy are up with the big club after Roman Polak and Nick Spaling to the San Jose Sharks. Leipsic plays his first game against the team that drafted him back in 2012. Leipsic scored his first NHL goal 10 days ago vs the Canucks and is on the lookout for more.
| Toronto | Nashville | |
| Record | 20-27-10 | 28-21-11 |
| Division Rank | 8th Atlantic | 4th Central |
| Conference | 16th East | 7th West |
| League | 29th overall | 15th overall |
| Goals +/- | 140/172 = -32 | 156/155 = +1 |
| Top Scorer | Leo Komarov 18G | James Neal 21G |
| Top Points | Leo Komarov 35pts | Roman Josi / Ryan Johanson 42pts |
| Top Goalie | James Reimer .919sv% | Pekka Rinne .906sv% |
| Historical vs | 7-10-1 | 10-7-1 |
Potential Line Ups (via mapleleafs.com):
PREDATORS
Calle Jarnkrok - Ryan Johansen - James Neal
Filip Forsberg - Mike Ribeiro - Craig Smith
Colin Wilson - Mike Fisher - Viktor Arvidsson
Miikka Salomaki - Paul Gaustad - Austin Watson
Roman Josi - Shea Weber
Mattias Ekholm - Ryan Ellis
Anthony Bitetto - Petter Granberg
Injured: Barret Jackman (upper body), Eric Nystrom (broken foot), Gabriel Bourque (upper body)
Scratched: Cody Bass
MAPLE LEAFS
Michael Grabner – Nazem Kadri – Brendan Leipsic
Colin Greening – Mark Arcobello – PA Parenteau
Daniel Winnik – Peter Holland – Brad Boyes
Josh Leivo – Byron Froese – Rich Clune
Viktor Loov – Stuart Percy
Morgan Rielly – Martin Marincin
Jake Gardiner – Frank Corrado
James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier
Injured: Stephane Robidas (lower body), Joffrey Lupul (middle body), James van Riemsdyk (foot fracture), Jared Cowen (hip tightness), Josh Leivo (upper body), Tyler Bozak (upper body), Matt Hunwick (lower body). Nathan Horton (forever)
Scratched: None
Suspended: Leo Komarov
Related reading:
Nashville Predators @ Toronto Maple Leafs Preview: With Apologies to Craig Smith - On the Forecheck
Brendan Leipsic dominant in Toronto Marlies win over Portland Pirates - Pension Plan Puppets
Tweetings:
Reimer on deadline distractions: "The business is the business so, yeah, there’s different thoughts running around your head no matter what"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 23, 2016
Leipsic: "Never knew if I’d play them (Preds) or how soon it’d come, but I’m excited to play them & it certainly makes it more special"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 23, 2016
My view of tonight's game:
I'll be asleep, heavily medicated, dreaming my most common dream:
