LGD: Devil’s Rejects
By ThatsKappy
5 years agoIt’s Game Day!
The Leafs are in Newark tonight for a date with the New Jersey Devils. One might say that a matchup against a struggling team like the Devils might be ideal to get things back on track, but we said that against Florida too, didn’t we?
In all seriousness, the Leafs are looking to break out of a frustrating slump that’s seen them go 1-2-2 over their last five games, while being outscored 20-14 over that span. They’ll need to be better tonight, against a struggling opponent or not.
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 73.0#56 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 80.9#15 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 77.8#17 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 77.25#16 FL1 |
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 74.9#38 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 86.0#5 C |  KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 74.4#42 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 78.44#2 FL2 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 74.3#42 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 77.0#36 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 76.2#28 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 75.84#1 FL3 |
 TYLER ENNIS Rating: 70.1#119 LW |  PAR LINDHOLM Rating: 70.8#144 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 69.4#111 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.08#20 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 79.8#5 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 72.8#40 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.27#12 DL1 |
 JAKE GARDINER Rating: 77.8#8 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.0#75 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.38#14 DL2 |
 TRAVIS DERMOTT Rating: 74.3#33 LD |  IGOR OZHIGANOV Rating: 72.1#50 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 73.17#5 DL3 |
No changes here tonight, for better or worse. The forward groups have been generally fine, but the defense continues to leave something to be desired. That was on full display in Sunrise on Saturday night. But alas, here we are. Same groups up front, same six on the back end.
Devils Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 TAYLOR HALL Rating: 84.5#3 LW |  NICO HISCHIER Rating: 76.1#42 C |  KYLE PALMIERI Rating: 80.5#7 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 80.37#6 FL1 |
 MARCUS JOHANSSON Rating: 73.4#70 LW |  PAVEL ZACHA Rating: 70.1#159 C |  JESPER BRATT Rating: 71.5#87 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 71.66#28 FL2 |
 MILES WOOD Rating: 71.0#98 LW |  TRAVIS ZAJAC Rating: 73.5#67 C |  BLAKE COLEMAN Rating: 73.5#69 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 72.66#12 FL3 |
 BRIAN BOYLE Rating: 71.4#90 LW |  BRETT SENEY |  JOHN QUENNEVILLE Rating: 72.3#72 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.85#3 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ANDY GREENE Rating: 70.9#102 LD |  DAMON SEVERSON Rating: 71.7#58 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 71.31#28 DL1 |
 WILL BUTCHER Rating: 75.8#22 LD |  SAMI VATANEN Rating: 74.1#34 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.95#4 DL2 |
 MIRCO MUELLER Rating: 70.2#116 LD |  BEN LOVEJOY Rating: 69.1#95 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 69.65#29 DL3 |
Not much to say here. The Devils are what they are, and not even 31 points in 29 games form Taylor Hall can undo that. They’re 25th in the league in goals against, with a team save percentage just a hair below .908. This is a team that is simply not scoring enough, and can’t keep the puck out of their own net.
Starting Goalies
Looks like Keith Kinkaid (11-8-6, .906) versus Frederik Andersen (17-9-1, .923) tonight. Andersen has faltered a little of late, with a save percentage over .900 in just two of his last five games. It’s been a long ways away from his Vezina-calibre performances of the rest of the season, but it shouldn’t persist beyond a blip.
Kinkaid, meanwhile, has had an overall down season after taking over the crease for the Devils last season en route to a wild card playoff berth. He is, however, riding two consecutive strong outings – with a 1-0-1 record to show in that span.
Notes
- I, Maple Leafs Nation Insider That’s Kappy, will be at the game tonight. I will provide updates.
- Puck Drop is at 7pm on TSN4.
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