Toronto Maple Leafs game preview: The Blue Jackets come to Toronto tired

Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs, game #44

Time: 7:00PM

Location: Air Canada Centre, Toronto

Broadcast/Streaming: NHL Network, TSN4, TVA Sports, NHL Live [BLACKOUTS IN LEAFS REGION]

Opponent SBNation Site: Jackets Cannon

The Maple Leafs are coming off a shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks, one they may not have deserved. The last time these two teams met the Blue Jackets defeated the Leafs 4-2, despite some great play from Bozak’s line.

The hot topic tonight will be Travis Dermott’s first night play the right side in the NHL, something he’s done with the Marlies so it’s not a completely new experience. He looks to be paired with Jake Gardiner, so that will be something.

Also I’m sure Komarov’s ice time will be a topic but la-la-la-la-la- I can’t hear you.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Forward Lines

Zach Hyman - Auston Matthews - William Nylander
Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Mitchell Marner
Matt Martin - Frederik Gauthier - Connor Brown

Josh Leivo and Dominic Moore stay off the ice as the Gauthier look-see continues. Not much movement in lines at the morning skate today, Komarov is still up with Kadri and Marleau so, be ready for that.

Defence Pairings

Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Travis Dermott
Andreas Borgman - Roman Polak

Travis Dermott was skating up with Jake Gardiner this morning, looks like he’s getting an even bigger chance to show he’s NHL ready by moving up to the top four and pairing on Gardiners right side.

Goaltenders

Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney

Andersen is in net as we’d expect on a non-back to back night, while McElhinney sits against his former team.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Forward Lines

Artemi Panarin - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Josh Anderson
Sonny Milano - Lukas Sedak - Nick Foligno
Matt Calvert - Boone Jenner - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Tyler Motte - Jordan Schroeder - Markus Hannikainen

I recognize like...five of these names. Boone Jenner only because he would take stupid spearing penalties in the world juniors, and Nick Foligno because he once howled like a wolf during a fight at a Wolves/IceDogs game.

Defence Pairings

Zach Werekski - Seth Jones
Markus Nutivaara - David Savard
Scott Harrington - Jack Johnson

More familiar territory here. Woah Jack Johnson on the third pair? Looks like his parents also mismanaged his ice time, eh?

Goaltenders

Sergei Bobrovsky
Matiss Kivlenieks

Hello new back up who isn’t Bobrovsky.

Numbers Preview

So the key to tonight’s game seems to be take penalties and let the Columbus power play continually fail.

Excellent, let’s keep Polak out there as much as possible.