It’s Toronto Maple Leafs game day! Something we haven’t seen since Saturday when the Leafs beat the Boston Bruins for the second time in two nights. It feels so long ago. The opponent for tonight, the New Jersey Devils, have also been on a bit of a break, not playing since Sunday night when they made a huge comeback to beat the Chicago Blackhawks after being down 5-2 in the third period. Two well rested teams meeting to kick things off and get back to work. It should be a good game.
New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs
7:00PM - Air Canada Centre
TV: TSN4, MSG, NHL Live
(with blackouts unless you’re in, say, Argentina wink wink)
Radio: TSN1050
Go taunt some Devils fans at: ‘Stop calling us In Lou We Trust’
The Maple Leafs and Devils previously met this season in the fourth game, ending the Leafs’ three game winning streak to start the season. Here are some excerpts from that recap:
A horrific giveaway by Damon Severson behind is net gives Marner a lot of time and space in front of the net. Also not a good idea, and he nearly capitalizes himself, before feeding it to Bozak, whose shot is blocked.
The Devils almost get it back immediately! A neutral zone scramble leads to an odd man rush for them, and the combination of Hischier and Hall almost pots one by Andersen.
Gardiner, to my eye, has not looked good tonight, and he takes an obstruction penalty after losing body position. Another chance for New Jersey to take the lead.
Another slashing penalty, this time for JVR. Please stop taking penalties, guys.
The Leafs need to step it up here. The Devils are theoretically weaker than them, but they’re not in this game by accident - they’re outplaying Toronto.
Are you fucking kidding me. The Devils somehow score. Jake again has a terrible time dealing with the puck at the line, and New Jersey takes advantage. 4-2 Devils.
The Leafs weren’t gonna go undefeated, and the Devils have been good enough to win this game. But this has exposed the same weaknesses we’ve seen for a while. Shaky defending with goaltending that isn’t always enough to cover for it.
Yeah it wasn’t a great game. BUT! Things are different now. We’ve replaced Calle Rosen with Andreas Borgman! But seriously, there’s been a lot going on in Leafs land since the last game.
- Auston Matthews was back on the ice for morning skate, and it was looking like we’d have him back for the first time in three games.
- The Leafs have gone 3-0 without Matthews, but haven’t played like a 3-0 team.
- Frederik Gauthier was sent down to the Marlies after taking Josh Leivo’s spot in the press box for a bit.
- Nikita Soshnikov is up in the NHL. Sosh has 12 points in 14 games with the Marlies and he’s recalled to avoid a clause in his contract that would have given him the option to return to the KHL, rather than stay in the AHL.
- Many players have taken advantage of this time off to recuperate. Most practices and skates have been optional. Hopefully, this gives us a fresh team like the one that beat the Jets* 7-2./
What’s been going on in New Jersey? Well...I don’t know. I forget this team exists half the time. Let’s see what I can dig up:
- Mirco Mueller broke his collarbone and is out indefinitely. I’ve done that, it’s no fun.
- The Binghamton Devils are bad.
- Taylor Hall is good.
- The Devils reassigned Michael McLeod to the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads.
- Brian Boyle, Maple Leafs of three months, will play at the ACC for the first time since picking red over blue.
- Travis Zajac might make his return to the lineup tonight./
Great. Now we know our enemy. Let’s see their numbers.
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 are your potential lines for tonight:
Toronto Maple Leafs
Guessing based on the last game.
Forwards
Leo Komarov - Nazem Kadri - William Nylander
Zach Hyman - Patrick Marleau - Connor Brown
James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Mitch Marner
Matt Martin - Dominic Moore - Nikita Soshnikov
Defence
Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev
Andreas Borgman - Connor Carrick
Goalies
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
New Jersey Devils
From Leftwinglock, assuming Zajac is in.
Forwards
Taylor Hall - Nico Hischier - Kyle Palmieri
Jesper Bratt - Travis Zajac - Drew Stafford
Adam Henrique - Brian Boyle - Miles Wood
Brian Gibbons - Blake Coleman - Stefan Noesen
Defence
Andy Greene - Steven Santini
John Moore - Damon Severson
Will Butcher - Ben Lovejoy
Goalies
Cory Schneider
Keith Kinkaid
Skate today was optional, and the drama was non-stop!
Carrick, Borgman and Nylander shooed off the ice by DJ Smith. Yelled “if you’re playing tonight, get off the ice!” Auston Matthews is still on the ice. But one of Leivo, Sosh and Matthews *has* to play. So. 🤷🏼♀️
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) November 16, 2017
Soshnikov has left the ice ... Leivo, Matthews still on https://t.co/FueazZ6iO9
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 16, 2017
Nikita Soshnikov is expected to dress for #leafs tonight. Could be a sign Auston Matthews isn’t ready to return.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 16, 2017
We’ll hear from Mike Babcock shortly.
Sigh. One more game without Matthews. Interesting that Soshnikov immediately draws in over Josh Leivo.
Nikita Soshnikov will get in the lineup with Matthews out. Babcock expects him to play mean and give #Leafs energy
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) November 16, 2017
The game’s at seven, the GDT will be up at 6:30.
Go Leafs Go!
