LGD – Game 69: DC Matinee

For the first time in a long time, the Leafs didn’t play Saturday night, instead shifting their schedule to a Sunday matinee with the Washington Capitals. It’s the Leafs first game back from their California road trip, and the Capitals last game before they visit California (sorry, Washington). 

The season series is 1-1 between the teams, but the Leafs won in a shootout, meaning the Capitals lead this season series. 

For the Leafs, the flu bug has hit the locker room, with Franson missing last Tuesday’s game, Holland missing Thursday’s game, and Phaneuf being on an IV the last few days with the illness. We don’t know for sure whether or not either will be in the lineup, but Phaneuf at least is considered probable to play. The Leafs should be thankful because they don’t want to go up against Alex the Great without their top defenceman.

Ovechkin has owned the Leafs over his career with 27 goals and 49 points over 32 games against the Buds. And he’s running away with the Rocket Richard trophy this year,  already sitting at 45 goals on the season, 11 ahead of Kessel who sits in third place. 

The Capitals are desperate for points, sitting three points back of the Flyers for the final wildcard, so if they really want that playoff spot, expect them to come out tough against a Leafs team that’s missing their top goalie and have a sick top defenceman.

James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel

Joffrey Lupul – Nazem Kadri – David Clarkson

Mason Raymond – Nikolai Kulemin – Troy Bodie 

Carter Ashton – Jay McClement – Colton Orr 

Carl Gunnarsson – Dion Phaneuf 

Jake Gardiner – Cody Franson 

Tim Gleason – Morgan Rielly 

We still don’t have confirmation on whether Holland will slot back into the lineup, but he did participate in practice, albeit in an extra player jersey. These lineup combinations were last updated yesterday so if Holland does make his way back, expect one of Ashton or Orr to sit with Holland taking back his spot as the third-line centre. We may also still see Ranger play as a the seventh defenceman. Luckily, the amazing first line is still intact after a few JVR scares, so hopefully him, Kessel and Bozak can continue producing some magical numbers today. 

Marcus Johansson – Nicklas Backstrom – Alex Ovechkin

Evgeny Kuznetsov – Casey Wellman – Troy Brouwer

Jason Chimera – Eric Fehr – Joel Ward

Dustin Penner – Jay Beagle – Tom Wilson

Karl Alzner – John Carlson

Jack Hillen – Mike Green 

Dmitri Orlov – Connor Carrick 

Kuznetsov just came over from Russia, has played in three games, and had three assists in Friday’s game against the Canucks. He’s still without a goal, so it’s almost a foregone conclusion he gets his first NHL one against the Leafs. It always happens that way.