Holy fuckity fuck. Let’s not do yesterday’s game again.

Please, I beg of you Leafs. It’s not a full do-over because those points are lost, but it’s a chance to put Game 2 firmly in the trash can that is Kanata, Ontario.

Toronto Maple Leafs Game #3
Opponents: Ottawa Senators
Location: In a field of cows, far from downtown Ottawa
Time: 7:00PM
Watch: CBC, Sportsnet Ontario, TVAS2, NHL streaming app

As I’m writing this (which is the night before) we don’t know what the lines will be for the Leafs. I assume Jack Campbell is going to be in net. Whether there are any lineup changes is up to Sheldon Keefe, and I hope he chooses wisely.

And in case he needs any inspiration, My Lineup Wishlist:

  • Quit four-goaling around and take Joe Thornton off the first line.
  • Zach Hyman has moved into his forever home: the first line.
  • John Tavares plays over 20 minutes tonight. God, can’t believe I even had to say it.
  • PP1 consisting of the five most obvious players you can think of.
  • PP1 consisting of the most obvious player getting shot attempts.
  • Mikko Lehtonen can’t come in unless the Leafs demote Barabanov — no waiver transactions can be processed in time — so screw it and go 11/7, it’s not like Keefe’s used Barabanov anyway.
  • Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Simmonds feels like the default third line since I can’t imagine Thornton and Spezza can keep up with the pace of play from Mikheyev and Kerfoot.
  • Is it unfair to ask for better players? I’ll even take aging Nick Robertson three years and have him anchor the third line. No, I don’t think he can do that now, that’s what the time machine is for! /

Toronto Maple Leafs lines (from last night)

Joe Thornton - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Jimmy Vesey  - John Tavares - William Nylander
Ilya Mikheyev - Alexander Kerfoot - Zach Hyman
Alexander Barabanov - Jason Spezza - Wayne Simmonds

Morgan Rielly - TJ Brodie
Jake Muzzin - Justin Holl
Travis Dermott - Zach Bogosian

Jack Campbell - projected starter
Frederik Andersen

Ottawa Senators lines (from last night)

Brady Tkachuk - Josh Norris - Drake Batherson
Tim Stützle - Derek Stepan - Evgeni Dadonov
Nick Paul - Chris Tierney - Connor Brown
Cedric Paquette - Artem Anisimov - Austin Watson

Thomas Chabot - Erik Gudbranson
Christian Wolanin - Nikita Zaitsev
Braydon Coburn - Josh Brown

Matt Murray
Marcus Hogberg - projected starter

Roster change:

When the clock strikes 5:00, a new day begins

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