Two weeks ago we were discussing the NHL playoffs at Sunday dinner and I said that the Maple Leafs were essentially locked into 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
“Hang on,” my brother in law said, “The Panthers could catch them.”
“No, they won’t.”
“They could.”
“No.”
So, without further adieu, I would like to point out to you, Stephen, that the Panthers are 12 points back of the Maple Leafs with two weeks left in the season.
Suck it.
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
7:30PM - Air Canada Centre
Watch: Sportsnet, TVA Sports, Sportsnet Now, NHL Live
Listen: TSN1050, Sportsnet 590
SBN: Litter Box Cats
So, here we are. Game 77 of an 82 game season, the end of March with two more weeks of hockey to go. The Leafs are set in their position, and they could perform an act of mercy tonight and beat the Panthers into remembering they aren’t a playoff team.
So, what should we expect tonight? Well, previously in the season the Leafs beat the Panthers 1-0, and lost to the Panthers 3-2 in a shootout twice. If we’re following the other games It will be a close, low scoring game. A real treat.
Here are your projected lines.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Zach Hyman - Auston Matthews - William Nylander
Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - Mitchell Marner
James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Connor Brown
Andreas Johnsson - Tomas Plekanec - Kasperi Kapanen
Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott - Roman Polak
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
Florida Panthers
Evgeni Dadonov - Aleksander Barkov - Nick Bjugstad
Jonathan Huberdeau - Vincent Trochek - Jamie McGinn
Maxim Mamin - Denis Malgin - Colton Sceviour
Michael Haley - Derek MacKenzie - Frank Vatrano
Keith Yandle - Aaron Ekblad
Michael Matheson - Mark Pysyk
MacKenzie Weegar - Alex Petrovic
Roberto Luongo
James Reimer
Here’s my simple, yet effective table:
Numbers Preview
| Maple Leafs | Team | Devils |
|---|---|---|
| 265GF - 226GA - +29 | Goal Differential | 238GF - 234GA - +4 |
| 24.4% - 2nd overall | Power Play | 21.7 - 10th overall |
| 81.3% - 12th overall | Penalty Kill | 81.9% - 7th overall |
| James van Riemsdyk - 36 | Most Goals | Taylor Hall - 39 |
| Mitch Marner - 47 | Most Assists | Taylor Hall - 54 |
| Mitch Marner - 69 | Most Points | Taylor Hall - 93 |
| Matt Martin - 50 | Most PM | Miles Wood - 84 |
| Jake Gardiner - 22:33/G | TOI Leader | Sami Vatanen - 22:42 |
| Frederik Andersen - .917sv% | Starting Goalie | Keith Kincaid - .911sv% |
Here’s my take on the game:
The season is too damn long.
Go Leafs Go!
Henrik Borgstrom has joined the #FlaPanthers but won’t play tonight in Toronto. Good chance his NHL debut comes tomorrow in Ottawa.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 28, 2018
