Leafs look to extend streak against surging LA Kings

After not blowing a 4-1 lead to the Boston Bruins on Saturday (and avoiding the re-traumatization of a legion of fans), the Leafs are sitting pretty with a five game win streak. All of the top-end players are performing, the defence has been solid, and while there are legitimate concerns about secondary scoring from depth players, the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking like the team we all thought they’d be.

The opponent in tonight’s matchup, for the first time since March 5th 2020, is the LA Kings. After a six game losing streak just after the start of the season, the Kings roll into Toronto sporting a four game win streak of their own, so someone’s run of wins will end tonight. Currently wracked with a long list of injured players, and a few players in COVID protocol, the Kings do not look scary on paper, but however, keep in mind that this is Trevor Moore’s first game back in Toronto since being traded to LA.

You want more potential storylines for tonight? This is Phillip Danault’s return to Scotiabank Arena for the first time since a particular Game 7 that no one wants to remember happened. Also on deck for things to watch: Tobias Bjornfot, the young defenceman was the player LA selected with the first round pick in 2019 they acquired from Toronto in the Muzzin trade. And speaking of trades between these two teams, tonight will be Jack Campbell’s first time actually playing against his former team, as he was taking the backup role in the only other Leafs/Kings game that has occurred since the trade. I’d say it’s the Jack Campbell revenge game, but Campbell is too sweet of a guy to concern himself with petty things like revenge. So with that, let’s check out the lineups.