<p>It was inevitable that we&#8217;d see Michael Hutchinson this season, but even as someone who follows the Leafs and knows of their uncanny ability to the find the most difficult path, I don&#8217;t think I would have ever guessed that Hutchinson would be playing for the Leafs by Game Five. These things happen, and as much as I&#8217;m always afraid of saying this when it comes to the Leafs, it could be worse. Hutchinson had a .919 save percentage in his eight games last season. That looks pretty decent, right? Of course it doesn&#8217;t account for the fact that 3 of the 8 appearances were sub .900, including Hutch being chased six minutes into a game against Ottawa after giving up two goals on the first three shots.</p>
<p>Hutch is a mixed bag, but given the fact that it&#8217;s a back to back, it was going to be necessary to start him at some point this weekend. Interestingly enough the Leafs chose to give Hutch the first game of the back to back, and the game played at home. The decision to start Hutchinson also shortens Campbell&#8217;s rest between starts as he&#8217;ll go tomorrow night in Pittsburgh, and then likely start against Carolina on Monday as well. That extra day off could have been nice, on paper San Jose is the worse offensive team, and the Leafs see Hutchinson tonight and Campbell tomorrow night as their best path to a four point weekend.</p>
<p>Tonight&#8217;s game also features another oddity, the 6pm start time. Despite the challenge to catch the opening minutes of the first period, this seems like a very beneficial way to start to a back to back, as every hour helps when it comes to flying into a new city and getting set up. That&#8217;s one extra hour of sleep for everyone, and even a small thing like that can make a difference in fighting fatigue tomorrow night.</p>
<p>Hopefully we see the Leafs come out with an aggressive start against the Sharks so they can manage time more carefully later in the game as well.</p>
<div id="forwards-container" class="three-col-table-wrap">
<table id="forwards" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Forwards" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="220">LW</th>
<th width="220">C</th>
<th width="220">RW</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="f1">
<td id="LW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/nick-ritchie/2944/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2552/Ritchie-Nick_TOR-2022_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Nick Ritchie"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">NICK RITCHIE</span></a></td>
<td id="C1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/auston-matthews/3030/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2433/Matthews-Auston_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Auston Matthews"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">AUSTON MATTHEWS</span></a></td>
<td id="RW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/mitchell-marner/2870/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2475/Marner-Mitch_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Mitch Marner"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">MITCH MARNER</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f2">
<td id="LW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/michael-bunting/3778/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3778/Bunting-Michael_TOR-2022_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Michael Bunting"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">MICHAEL BUNTING</span></a></td>
<td id="C2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/john-tavares/1018/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1016/Tavares-John_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="John Tavares"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">JOHN TAVARES</span></a></td>
<td id="RW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/william-nylander/2776/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2375/Nylander-William_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="William Nylander"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">WILLIAM NYLANDER</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f3">
<td id="LW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/alex-kerfoot/3247/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2833/Kerfoot-Alexander_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Alexander Kerfoot"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">ALEXANDER KERFOOT</span></a></td>
<td id="C3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/david-kampf/3341/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4620/Kampf-David_TOR-2022_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="David Kampf"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">DAVID KAMPF</span></a></td>
<td id="RW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/ondrej-kase/3102/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2685/Kase-Ondrej_TOR-2022_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Ondrej Kase"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">ONDREJ KASE</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f4">
<td id="LW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/pierre-engvall/4744/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4744/Engvall-Pierre_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Pierre Engvall"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">PIERRE ENGVALL</span></a></td>
<td id="C4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jason-spezza/1112/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1109/Spezza-Jason_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Jason Spezza"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">JASON SPEZZA</span></a></td>
<td id="RW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/wayne-simmonds/776/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/775/Simmonds-Wayne_TOR-2021_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Wayne Simmonds"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">WAYNE SIMMONDS</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div id="defense-container" class="two-col-table-wrap">
<table id="defense" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Defense" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th colspan="2" scope="col" width="475">DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="d1">
<td id="LD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/morgan-rielly/2319/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1935/Rielly-Morgan_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Morgan Rielly"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">MORGAN RIELLY</span></a></td>
<td id="RD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/t-j-brodie/199/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/199/Brodie-TJ_TOR-2021_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="T.J. Brodie"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">T.J. BRODIE</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d2">
<td id="LD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jake-muzzin/769/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/768/Muzzin-Jake_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Jake Muzzin"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">JAKE MUZZIN</span></a></td>
<td id="RD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/justin-holl/3271/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2857/Holl-Justin_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Justin Holl"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">JUSTIN HOLL</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d3">
<td id="LD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/rasmus-sandin/4806/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4806/Sandin-Rasmus_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Rasmus Sandin"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">RASMUS SANDIN</span></a></td>
<td id="RD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/travis-dermott/3263/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2849/Dermott-Travis_TOR-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Travis Dermott"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">TRAVIS DERMOTT</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Leafs will be going with the same lineup they used against the Rangers, hoping that the drop off from Igor Shesterkin to Adin Hill is enough of a difference to pick up a win. Additionally there has been a bit more time for the top six forwards to get used to playing with their linemates over the past few off days, and hopefully that familiarity will pay off.</p>
<p>On the blueline the Leafs remained locked in to their pairings, but given the need for fresh legs I wouldn&#8217;t rule out that Timothy Liljegren finds his way in somewhere tomorrow night.</p>
<div id="forwards-container" class="three-col-table-wrap">
<table id="forwards" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Forwards" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="220">LW</th>
<th width="220">C</th>
<th width="220">RW</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="f1">
<td id="LW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jonathan-dahlen/3156/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2750/Dahlen-Jonathan_SJS-2022_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Jonathan Dahlen"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">JONATHAN DAHLEN</span></a></td>
<td id="C1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/logan-couture/1263/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1259/Couture-Logan.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Logan Couture"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">LOGAN COUTURE</span></a></td>
<td id="RW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/timo-meier/2875/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2480/Meier-Timo_1.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Timo Meier"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">TIMO MEIER</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f2">
<td id="LW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/william-eklund/34666/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/34666/Eklund-William_SJS-2022_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="William Eklund"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">WILLIAM EKLUND</span></a></td>
<td id="C2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/tomas-hertl/2554/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2125/Hertl-Tomas.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Tomas Hertl"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">TOMAS HERTL</span></a></td>
<td id="RW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/rudolfs-balcers/3929/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3929/Balcers-Rudolfs_SJS-2021_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Rudolfs Balcers"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">RUDOLFS BALCERS</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f3">
<td id="LW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/matt-nieto/2564/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2169/Nieto-Matt_SJS-2021_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Matthew Nieto"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">MATTHEW NIETO</span></a></td>
<td id="C3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/nick-bonino/5/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/5/Bonino-Nick_SJS-2022_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Nick Bonino"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">NICK BONINO</span></a></td>
<td id="RW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/kevin-labanc/3104/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2705/Labanc-Kevin.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Kevin Labanc"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">KEVIN LABANC</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f4">
<td id="LW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/andrew-cogliano/527/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/526/Cogliano-Andrew_SJS-2022_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Andrew Cogliano"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">ANDREW COGLIANO</span></a></td>
<td id="C4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jasper-weatherby/29628/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/29628/SJS.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Jasper Weatherby"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">JASPER WEATHERBY</span></a></td>
<td id="RW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/lane-pederson/3885/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3885/SJS.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Lane Pederson"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">LANE PEDERSON</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div id="defense-container" class="two-col-table-wrap">
<table id="defense" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Defense" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th colspan="2" scope="col" width="475">DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="d1">
<td id="LD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/mario-ferraro/27666/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/27666/Ferraro-Mario_SJS_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Mario Ferraro"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">MARIO FERRARO</span></a></td>
<td id="RD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/brent-burns/793/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/792/Burns-Brent_1.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Brent Burns"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">BRENT BURNS</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d2">
<td id="LD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jacob-middleton/22822/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/22822/Middleton-Jacob_SJS-2020_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Jacob Middleton"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">JACOB MIDDLETON</span></a></td>
<td id="RD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/erik-karlsson/1090/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1087/Karlsson-Erik.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Erik Karlsson"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">ERIK KARLSSON</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d3">
<td id="LD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/radim-simek/3310/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2894/Simek-Radim_SJS_.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Radim Simek"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">RADIM SIMEK</span></a></td>
<td id="RD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/marc-edouard-vlasic/1303/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="jersey-image" src="https://i0.wp.com/api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1299/Vlasic-Marc-Edouard.png?w=1424&#038;ssl=1" alt="Marc-Edouard Vlasic"   /><br />
<span class="player-name">MARC-EDOUARD VLASIC</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The Sharks are built to be underestimated, and hopefully the Leafs don&#8217;t go down that path tonight. There are a lot of solid pairs in that top nine, as Hertl and Eklund, Couture and Meier, and Bonino and Labanc can all make an impact.</p>
<p>On defense it might look like the scariest blueline from 2015, and decidedly less so at the moment, but there&#8217;s enough there that they can create issues for a Leafs team that has been struggling with offense to start the year.</p>
<p>As mentioned above the starters will be Michael Hutchinson for the Leafs and Adin Hill for the Sharks, so no James Reimer tonight.</p>
<p>Also as mentioned above the game will start at 6pm ET, and it can be found on TSN 4 in Ontario.</p>
</div>
</div>


It was inevitable that we'd see Michael Hutchinson this season, but even as someone who follows the Leafs and knows of their uncanny ability to the find the most difficult path, I don't think I would have ever guessed that Hutchinson would be playing for the Leafs by Game Five. These things happen, and as much as I'm always afraid of saying this when it comes to the Leafs, it could be worse. Hutchinson had a .919 save percentage in his eight games last season. That looks pretty decent, right? Of course it doesn't account for the fact that 3 of the 8 appearances were sub .900, including Hutch being chased six minutes into a game against Ottawa after giving up two goals on the first three shots.

Hutch is a mixed bag, but given the fact that it's a back to back, it was going to be necessary to start him at some point this weekend. Interestingly enough the Leafs chose to give Hutch the first game of the back to back, and the game played at home. The decision to start Hutchinson also shortens Campbell's rest between starts as he'll go tomorrow night in Pittsburgh, and then likely start against Carolina on Monday as well. That extra day off could have been nice, on paper San Jose is the worse offensive team, and the Leafs see Hutchinson tonight and Campbell tomorrow night as their best path to a four point weekend.

Tonight's game also features another oddity, the 6pm start time. Despite the challenge to catch the opening minutes of the first period, this seems like a very beneficial way to start to a back to back, as every hour helps when it comes to flying into a new city and getting set up. That's one extra hour of sleep for everyone, and even a small thing like that can make a difference in fighting fatigue tomorrow night.

Hopefully we see the Leafs come out with an aggressive start against the Sharks so they can manage time more carefully later in the game as well.
<div id="forwards-container" class="three-col-table-wrap">
<table id="forwards" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Forwards" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="220">LW</th>
<th width="220">C</th>
<th width="220">RW</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="f1">
<td id="LW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/nick-ritchie/2944/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2552/Ritchie-Nick_TOR-2022_.png" alt="Nick Ritchie" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">NICK RITCHIE</span></a></td>
<td id="C1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/auston-matthews/3030/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2433/Matthews-Auston_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Auston Matthews" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">AUSTON MATTHEWS</span></a></td>
<td id="RW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/mitchell-marner/2870/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2475/Marner-Mitch_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Mitch Marner" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MITCH MARNER</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f2">
<td id="LW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/michael-bunting/3778/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3778/Bunting-Michael_TOR-2022_.png" alt="Michael Bunting" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MICHAEL BUNTING</span></a></td>
<td id="C2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/john-tavares/1018/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1016/Tavares-John_TOR-2020_.png" alt="John Tavares" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JOHN TAVARES</span></a></td>
<td id="RW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/william-nylander/2776/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2375/Nylander-William_TOR-2020_.png" alt="William Nylander" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">WILLIAM NYLANDER</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f3">
<td id="LW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/alex-kerfoot/3247/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2833/Kerfoot-Alexander_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Alexander Kerfoot" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">ALEXANDER KERFOOT</span></a></td>
<td id="C3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/david-kampf/3341/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4620/Kampf-David_TOR-2022_.png" alt="David Kampf" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">DAVID KAMPF</span></a></td>
<td id="RW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/ondrej-kase/3102/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2685/Kase-Ondrej_TOR-2022_.png" alt="Ondrej Kase" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">ONDREJ KASE</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f4">
<td id="LW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/pierre-engvall/4744/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4744/Engvall-Pierre_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Pierre Engvall" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">PIERRE ENGVALL</span></a></td>
<td id="C4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jason-spezza/1112/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1109/Spezza-Jason_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Jason Spezza" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JASON SPEZZA</span></a></td>
<td id="RW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/wayne-simmonds/776/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/775/Simmonds-Wayne_TOR-2021_.png" alt="Wayne Simmonds" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">WAYNE SIMMONDS</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div id="defense-container" class="two-col-table-wrap">
<table id="defense" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Defense" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th colspan="2" scope="col" width="475">DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="d1">
<td id="LD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/morgan-rielly/2319/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1935/Rielly-Morgan_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Morgan Rielly" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MORGAN RIELLY</span></a></td>
<td id="RD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/t-j-brodie/199/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/199/Brodie-TJ_TOR-2021_.png" alt="T.J. Brodie" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">T.J. BRODIE</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d2">
<td id="LD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jake-muzzin/769/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/768/Muzzin-Jake_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Jake Muzzin" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JAKE MUZZIN</span></a></td>
<td id="RD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/justin-holl/3271/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2857/Holl-Justin_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Justin Holl" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JUSTIN HOLL</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d3">
<td id="LD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/rasmus-sandin/4806/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4806/Sandin-Rasmus_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Rasmus Sandin" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">RASMUS SANDIN</span></a></td>
<td id="RD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/travis-dermott/3263/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2849/Dermott-Travis_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Travis Dermott" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">TRAVIS DERMOTT</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Leafs will be going with the same lineup they used against the Rangers, hoping that the drop off from Igor Shesterkin to Adin Hill is enough of a difference to pick up a win. Additionally there has been a bit more time for the top six forwards to get used to playing with their linemates over the past few off days, and hopefully that familiarity will pay off.

On the blueline the Leafs remained locked in to their pairings, but given the need for fresh legs I wouldn't rule out that Timothy Liljegren finds his way in somewhere tomorrow night.
<div id="forwards-container" class="three-col-table-wrap">
<table id="forwards" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Forwards" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="220">LW</th>
<th width="220">C</th>
<th width="220">RW</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="f1">
<td id="LW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jonathan-dahlen/3156/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2750/Dahlen-Jonathan_SJS-2022_.png" alt="Jonathan Dahlen" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JONATHAN DAHLEN</span></a></td>
<td id="C1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/logan-couture/1263/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1259/Couture-Logan.png" alt="Logan Couture" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">LOGAN COUTURE</span></a></td>
<td id="RW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/timo-meier/2875/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2480/Meier-Timo_1.png" alt="Timo Meier" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">TIMO MEIER</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f2">
<td id="LW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/william-eklund/34666/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/34666/Eklund-William_SJS-2022_.png" alt="William Eklund" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">WILLIAM EKLUND</span></a></td>
<td id="C2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/tomas-hertl/2554/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2125/Hertl-Tomas.png" alt="Tomas Hertl" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">TOMAS HERTL</span></a></td>
<td id="RW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/rudolfs-balcers/3929/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3929/Balcers-Rudolfs_SJS-2021_.png" alt="Rudolfs Balcers" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">RUDOLFS BALCERS</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f3">
<td id="LW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/matt-nieto/2564/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2169/Nieto-Matt_SJS-2021_.png" alt="Matthew Nieto" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MATTHEW NIETO</span></a></td>
<td id="C3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/nick-bonino/5/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/5/Bonino-Nick_SJS-2022_.png" alt="Nick Bonino" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">NICK BONINO</span></a></td>
<td id="RW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/kevin-labanc/3104/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2705/Labanc-Kevin.png" alt="Kevin Labanc" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">KEVIN LABANC</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f4">
<td id="LW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/andrew-cogliano/527/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/526/Cogliano-Andrew_SJS-2022_.png" alt="Andrew Cogliano" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">ANDREW COGLIANO</span></a></td>
<td id="C4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jasper-weatherby/29628/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/29628/SJS.png" alt="Jasper Weatherby" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JASPER WEATHERBY</span></a></td>
<td id="RW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/lane-pederson/3885/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3885/SJS.png" alt="Lane Pederson" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">LANE PEDERSON</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div id="defense-container" class="two-col-table-wrap">
<table id="defense" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Defense" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th colspan="2" scope="col" width="475">DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="d1">
<td id="LD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/mario-ferraro/27666/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/27666/Ferraro-Mario_SJS_.png" alt="Mario Ferraro" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MARIO FERRARO</span></a></td>
<td id="RD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/brent-burns/793/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/792/Burns-Brent_1.png" alt="Brent Burns" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">BRENT BURNS</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d2">
<td id="LD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jacob-middleton/22822/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/22822/Middleton-Jacob_SJS-2020_.png" alt="Jacob Middleton" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JACOB MIDDLETON</span></a></td>
<td id="RD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/erik-karlsson/1090/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1087/Karlsson-Erik.png" alt="Erik Karlsson" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">ERIK KARLSSON</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d3">
<td id="LD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/radim-simek/3310/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2894/Simek-Radim_SJS_.png" alt="Radim Simek" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">RADIM SIMEK</span></a></td>
<td id="RD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/marc-edouard-vlasic/1303/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1299/Vlasic-Marc-Edouard.png" alt="Marc-Edouard Vlasic" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MARC-EDOUARD VLASIC</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The Sharks are built to be underestimated, and hopefully the Leafs don't go down that path tonight. There are a lot of solid pairs in that top nine, as Hertl and Eklund, Couture and Meier, and Bonino and Labanc can all make an impact.

On defense it might look like the scariest blueline from 2015, and decidedly less so at the moment, but there's enough there that they can create issues for a Leafs team that has been struggling with offense to start the year.

As mentioned above the starters will be Michael Hutchinson for the Leafs and Adin Hill for the Sharks, so no James Reimer tonight.

Also as mentioned above the game will start at 6pm ET, and it can be found on TSN 4 in Ontario.

</div>
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