Lightning @ Leafs - Jan. 2nd, 7:00pm - SNO, Fan 590

[CarltonTheBear]

@

  28-8-2, 58 points | 23-15-2, 48 points

Projected Lines

Namestnikov-Stamkos-Kucherov Palat-Point-Johnson Killorn-Gourde-Conacher Kunitz-Paquette-Brown Hedman-Dotchin Sergachev-Stralman Coburn-Girardi Vasilevskiy ​

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander Komarov-Marleau-Brown JVR-Bozak-Marner Martin-Moore-Leivo Rielly-Hainsey Gardiner-Marincin Borgman-Polak Andersen​

Scratches

Andrej Sustr Slater Koekkoek ​

Connor Carrick Nazem Kadri Curtis McElhinney​

Game Notes

TB
?Vasilevskiy (25-5-1, 2.02 GAA, .935 Sv%) will likely start for the Lightning
?Tampa leads the league in points, they have the best goal differential of any team, they have the best PP%, they have two of the top-4 point scorers in the league (Kucherov leads the league in goals and points), Vasilevskiy leads the league in all 4 major goalie categories (W, GAA, Sv%, SO), and to top it all off they're 3rd in the league in score-adjusted CF%
?And as if they weren't dangerous enough with just their top line, Tyler Johnson has found his offensive spark from 2-3 years ago. He's on a 12-game point streak where he's scored 8 goals and 10 assists in that span

TOR
?Andersen (20-11-1, 2.71 GAA, .920 Sv%) will likely start for the Leafs
?Might see some big shuffling amongst the defence core tonight after a poor effort against Vegas (by that I mean Carrick might go back in for Marincin)
?This will be Toronto's first evening home game since December 10th
?Still no real update on Kadri's status yet
Injuries

?Peter Budaj - Leg - Injured Reserve ?Ryan Callahan - Shoulder - Injured Reserve​

?Nathan Horton - Back - Out indefinitely ?Joffrey Lupul - Actually Injured - Out indefinitely ?Nikita Soshnikov - Groin - Injured Reserve ?Nikita Zaitsev - Lower Body - Injured Reserve ?Nazem Kadri - Upper Body - Questionable Tuesday ?Curtis McElhinney - Lower Body - Questionable Tuesday ​

Stream Options

https://www.reddit.com/r/NHLstreams
​

 

[Kaberle15]

Great job CtB,

Lets kick start the year with a win! Go Leafs Go!!!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

We all have an awful feeling about this, right? Like I'd consider keeping the score within-3 to be a success. Especially with a shutdown line without Kadri.

 

[herman]

We all have an awful feeling about this, right? Like I'd consider keeping the score within-3 to be a success. Especially with a shutdown line without Kadri.

I think the blue and white team will win.

Also, Tampa Bay is hella good, so I'd still bet on them even with Kadri. Unless Kucherov slides into Vasilevskiy on the first shift and they both come out of the game, they are deeper, faster, and better structured.

Our only chance is catching Dan Girardi on the ice with Matthews-Nylander repeatedly and hopefully outscoring Stamkos-Kucherov on the 5 power plays we will be gifting them thanks to Polak.

 

[rdowdall]

We all have an awful feeling about this, right? Like I'd consider keeping the score within-3 to be a success. Especially with a shutdown line without Kadri.

This will not be pretty.  All we can hope for is that the Leafs somehow learn from it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/948215424222601217

Pickard was sent back down as McBackup looks ready to go. Gauthier was called up and seems to have bumped Moore out of the line-up for now. Kadri seems ready to return as well. Also Carrick's back in for Marincin.

 

[herman]

Goat Everybody v Dotchin, rd 2

 

[rdowdall]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/948215424222601217

Pickard was sent back down as McBackup looks ready to go. Gauthier was called up and seems to have bumped Moore out of the line-up for now. Kadri seems ready to return as well. Also Carrick's back in for Marincin.

That is interesting.  I wonder why they are inserting Gauthier.  Moore hasn't been horrible.

 

[ZBBM]

We all have an awful feeling about this, right? Like I'd consider keeping the score within-3 to be a success. Especially with a shutdown line without Kadri.

This will not be pretty.  All we can hope for is that the Leafs somehow learn from it.

Nah, they'll rise to the occasion.  Not necessarily predicting a win, but it will be close.

 

[ZBBM]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/948215424222601217

Pickard was sent back down as McBackup looks ready to go. Gauthier was called up and seems to have bumped Moore out of the line-up for now. Kadri seems ready to return as well. Also Carrick's back in for Marincin.

That is interesting.  I wonder why they are inserting Gauthier.  Moore hasn't been horrible.

Strange, I would say.  Moore has been really good in his role, IMO. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Strange, I would say.  Moore has been really good in his role, IMO. 

It's funny, opinion on Moore seems to be pretty split. I think he's been fine-to-good as a 4C. I've liked the speed he brings, which isn't something that we'll see with Gauthier.

One interesting thing though is that the Martin-Moore-Brown has put up some pretty awful possession numbers this season. In 45 minutes of 5-on-5 play (which admittedly isn't a ton), they're rocking a 30.7% CF rate.

 

[Chris]

I haven't had any issues with Moore, so this does seem a bit strange...maybe he's hurting. Goat had a good game with 3 points recently, maybe they just want to have a look at how he's progressed. The bigger problem in the lineup seems to be Brown, he's on the ice for a lot of goals against lately, often seems to be late getting back. And his offense has dried up.

 

[herman]

One interesting thing though is that the Martin-Moore-Brown has put up some pretty awful possession numbers this season. In 45 minutes of 5-on-5 play (which admittedly isn't a ton), they're rocking a 30.7% CF rate.

None of them have the puck skills to hold the puck to make plays. Brown is an opportunistic shooter. Moore can sometimes carry, but only in open space. Martin is at his best when he doesn't have the puck.

 

[Highlander]

Freddie had a huge game the other day, dished a beauty to Kapi who converted, then he scored two very nice goals in the 3rd period, real snipes to be sure.
He is good on the Face-offs and has huge reach, he can tie guys up.
Lets face it, it's amazing that he overcame a detached hamstring so quickly, he is a testament to fortitude.
Moore is a good player but only here for a year, perhaps they want to have another look at Fredo before they make a final decision on his future.

 

[bustaheims]

Unless the Goat!

 

[bustaheims]

Strange, I would say.  Moore has been really good in his role, IMO.

Agreed. Would like to see him in the lineup instead of Martin. Moore-Gauthier-Brown could be an interesting line.

 

[Arn]

Why is it that some ACC games face off at 7 and others at 730?

 

[ZBBM]

Unless the Goat!

And let him graze in the rich pastures of victory!

 

[disco]

Great news with Naz. I'm guess neck soreness and not a concussion. No way core guys come back without being 100% on those, and that can take a while.

Here we go: no more crazy times, crazy arenas and crazy trips and crazy back-to-backs. Ten days, five games all at home. Home cooking and 5-0.

Edit:
https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/948223728382394368

 

[herman]

Freddy's night: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2018/1/2/16836278/freddy-the-goat-stands-big-and-tall-in-toronto-marlies-win-over-belleville-senators-gauthier-brooks