LGD: Cats in the Cradle

It’s the biggest game of the year once again, until the next game. The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to take on the Florida Panthers at the Air Canada Centre. Here’s what we can expect to go down:

Toronto Maple Leafs lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff

It’s basically the same lineup as every other night, but there’s a Kappy there now.

Florida Panthers lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff

Man, Jonathan Marchessault is looking like a good pickup for the Panthers. Real shame that dime a dozen guys who score at a young age in the AHL don’t turn out to eventually rack up points ever.

James Reimer starts in goal for the Panthers. The latest I’ve ever gone to a Leafs home game in a season was a Toronto/Washington game in Reimer’s rookie year. The Leafs lost in a shootout and were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Reimer losing to the Leafs in regulation tonight would make it effectively impossible for the Panthers to catch up to the Leafs tonight. I’m just saying.

Curtis McEhlinney starts in goal for the Leafs. We still don’t know how ready Frederik Andersen is, though it seems like he’s not as hurt as we all worried on Saturday. Garret Sparks will probably sit in as the backup tonight, after a stellar weekend with the Marlies after coming back from a month-long injury of his own.

It’s Kasperi Kapanen’s season debut for the Leafs. Let it be known that this year’s Kasperi Kapanen isn’t last year’s Kasperi Kapanen. This one scores more, has even more nitrous attached to his first gear, and is defensively responsible. He draws penalties, he kills them, and he’ll make the fourth line as good as they’ve ever been. We’ve done the Soshnikov vs. Leivo debate for a few weeks; Kapanen has evolved into being both.

Watch out of that tonight. I think you’re going to like him. Puck drop is at 7:30 PM, TSN has your broadcast.

Need tickets to the game? Check out this link to get yourself in the building.