LGD: Avalanche Warning
By ThatsKappy
6 years agoGood Morning!
It sure feels nice to go into a game coming off of a win. The Leafs (26-17-5) will look to make it two in a row tonight when they host the Colorado Avalanche (26-16-3). Shockingly, both teams are sporting pretty similar records this season, though the Leafs seem to have a stranglehold on the third spot in the Atlantic Division, while the Avalanche are clinging to the final Wild Card spot in the West.
You might remember the last time these two teams met; it was the only time we saw Calvin Pickard this season, and it was a game decided on a suspect call against Connor Brown in overtime.
Luckily, that ill-timed penalty against Brown is hopefully but a distant memory now, overshadowed by his tremendous play of late and his subsequent promotion. TLN’s resident artist Andrew Mok whipped up this beauty in light of Brown’s recent accomplishments:
A Gud Pro, and a good Ontariah kid if you ask me (or Mike Babcock) (or Grapes).
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN |  AUSTON MATTHEWS |  WILLIAM NYLANDER |
 PATRICK MARLEAU |  NAZEM KADRI |  LEO KOMAROV |
 JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK |  TYLER BOZAK |  CONNOR BROWN |
 MATT MARTIN |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER |  MITCH MARNER |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 JAKE GARDINER |  RON HAINSEY |
 TRAVIS DERMOTT |  CONNOR CARRICK |
 ANDREAS BORGMAN |  ROMAN POLAK |
No changes to the lines since last game in Ottawa. Morgan Rielly remains out for a second consecutive game, but an optimist might say this could allow for another strong showing by Jake Gardiner in a bigger role, and for us to see that Dermott-Carrick pairing in action again, which was a thing of beauty against the Sens.
Mitch Marner remains on the fourth line, for now. We’ll see how that line looks after another couple days of practice together.
Avalanche Lines
Last update: January 22, 2018
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 GABRIEL LANDESKOG |  NATHAN MACKINNON |  MIKKO RANTANEN |
 MATTHEW NIETO |  CARL SODERBERG |  BLAKE COMEAU |
 GABRIEL BOURQUE |  TYSON JOST |  JT COMPHER |
 DOMINIC TONINATO |  ALEXANDER KERFOOT |  NAIL YAKUPOV |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 NIKITA ZADOROV |  ERIK JOHNSON |
 PATRIK NEMETH |  MARK BARBERIO |
 SAMUEL GIRARD |  ANTON LINDHOLM |
No Tyson Barrie or Semyon Varlamov for the Avs tonight. The top line remains dominant, with Nathan MacKinnon in particular enjoying a terrific season that’s seen him put up 59 points through 45 games.
Choose Your Fighter (Starting Goalies)
1 Flubby Man
or
1 Handsome Boi
Frederik Andersen vs. Jonathan Bernier tonight, folks.
Notes
- Nazem Kadri has 2 points in his last 19 games. He’s gotta bust out of this at some point; hopefully tonight is the night.
- Curious to see how quickly Mitch Marner gets bumped up the lineup if he continues playing like he did late last game. Let Mitch be Mitch and good things will happen.
- Auston Matthews looks to get to work on the back half of another 40 goal season tonight. He’s halfway there through just 38 games played.
Puck Drop is at 7pm on Sportsnet Ontario.
LGD BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PINT
Make the Pint your home for all things game day. We give away a free pound of wings during every game either home or away. 4.40$ mugs of Bud and Bud Lights.
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