Maple Leafs @ Lightning Game Chat: Time for the Leafs to seize their destiny by the turtleneck!

Leafs (39-20-5) vs. Lightning (42-17-3)

7:30 pm ET

TV: SN (blackouts in effect)

Our game preview with lineups is here.

While the Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing without Namestnikov, who they traded to the Rangers, and without JT Miller and Ryan McDonagh, who they traded for, the Leafs will have pretty much their best lineup for the remainder of the season — only lacking some guy named Auston Matthews who’s okay I guess.

We’ll get our first look at the Leafs’ new-look lineup with trade deadline acquisition, Tomas Plekanec.

Well, actually, that’s not quite true. The Leafs acquired a Tomas Plekanec, but not the same one that played over 900 games for Montreal.

You see, the Tomas Plekanec that played for Montreal was an evil villain. He kicked puppies, he tied damsels in distress to rail road tracks while stroking his evil goatee.

But the Tomas Plekanec that the Leafs traded for is actually the evil Tomas Plekanec’s GOOD twin brother. Case in point:

You can tell how much of a good boy THIS Plekanec is by how respectfully he deals with the media and the Leafs’ policies on facial hair.

Plekanec: "I didn’t have to change the colours of the turtleneck. That’s good." On shaving: "It was a different look in the mirror this morning ... Right away I got messages from guys I played with who played under Lou, they told me right away you have to shave that." #Leafs

— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) February 26, 2018

ICYMI

2018 NHL Trade Deadline passes with no new moves from the Leafs | by Katya

Mike Babcock talks about Tomas Plekanec, and he talks about being the new guy | by Katya

Tomas Plekanec is an excellent addition for the Maple Leafs | by Kevin

Toronto Marlies 2018 playoff-eligible roster | by Katya

Your likely lineup for the Leafs, except for Zaitsev being with Gardiner and not Carrick (that was a typo Kristen admitted to right after)

#Leafs lines at morning skate:
Hyman-Nylander-Kapanen
Marleau-Kadri-Marner
van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Brown
Leivo-Plekanec-Komarov
Moore

Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Carrick
Dermott-Polak
Martin-Carrick

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) February 26, 2018

This is another yard stick game for the Leafs. Leafs don’t have Matthews, Lightning don’t have JT Miller or McDonagh or Vladislav Namestnikov.

In fact, since we’re past the trade deadline now I think that means we’ve finally entered.... THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF THE YEAR SEASON!!!!

Is this the most important game of the year for the Leafs?

GO LEAFS GO!