LGD: Kapan-out
By ThatsKappy
5 years agoGoooood afternoon!
The Leafs host the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at Scotiabank Arena. The last time these teams met, the Leafs overcame a 2-0 deficit in a 7-6 barn-burner that featured Garret Sparks being Garret Sparks, and Auston Matthews clicking with Kasperi Kapanen for some early magic in the pre-Nylander days.
Now, William Nylander is reunited with Auston Matthews, and Kasperi Kapanen is sidelined with a concussion. Can Willy and Auston find the same magic tonight?
Leafs Lines
Last update: March 11, 2019
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 74.6#35 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 83.4#5 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 80.2#10 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 79.41#10 FL1 |
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 74.3#38 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 83.0#8 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 74.8#41 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.34#7 FL2 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 73.0#70 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 78.3#30 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 69.9#111 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.72#8 FL3 |
 TYLER ENNIS Rating: 73.4#58 LW |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 68.9#179 C |  TREVOR MOORE Rating: 73.6#53 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.99#4 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 80.4#6 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 73.6#43 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.97#11 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 76.1#19 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.8#73 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.97#14 DL2 |
 MARTIN MARINCIN Rating: 71.3#93 LD |  IGOR OZHIGANOV Rating: 71.7#77 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.49#17 DL3 |
No surprises here, aside from Kapanen. Nic Petan is the odd man out on the fourth line, while Gardiner (back) and Dermott (shoulder) continue to be week-to-week.
Chicago Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 BRANDON SAAD Rating: 73.9#49 LW |  JONATHAN TOEWS Rating: 78.8#23 C |  DYLAN SIKURA Rating: 72.2#73 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 74.97#23 FL1 |
 DOMINIK KAHUN Rating: 71.6#114 LW |  ARTEM ANISIMOV Rating: 72.0#104 C |  PATRICK KANE Rating: 83.8#2 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 75.80#11 FL2 |
 ALEX DEBRINCAT Rating: 80.0#12 LW |  DYLAN STROME Rating: 72.8#86 C |  BRENDAN PERLINI Rating: 71.5#86 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 74.76#1 FL3 |
 CHRIS KUNITZ Rating: 70.7#114 LW |  DAVID KAMPF Rating: 71.3#131 C |  MARCUS KRUGER Rating: 70.2#159 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.75#17 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 DUNCAN KEITH Rating: 73.4#52 LD |  ERIK GUSTAFSSON Rating: 75.1#27 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.26#18 DL1 |
 GUSTAV FORSLING Rating: 71.0#99 LD |  BRENT SEABROOK Rating: 72.1#66 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 71.52#30 DL2 |
 CARL DAHLSTROM Rating: 70.9#102 LD |  CONNOR MURPHY Rating: 71.6#80 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.23#19 DL3 |
Chicago has quietly been making a push for the playoffs in the disastrous Western Conference bubble, but it’s more of a pipe dream than anything at this point. They sit six points out of a playoff spot, albeit with a game in hand on Arizona.
Drake Caggiula and Cam Ward are the only injuries for the Blackhawks – the latter arguably being a great addition by subtraction.
Who’s Hot
Alex DeBrincat is closing in on 40 goals in his sophomore season; he’s likely going to hit it in his sleep at this rate. He’s got 37 through 69 games – how aren’t more people talking about this?
…because John Tavares has 38 goals! It’s a race to 40 for the two players, and if the score is anything like October’s (when Tavares netted a hat trick), they bpth just might do it tonight.
Starting Goalies
Corey Crawford (.901) will battle Frederik Andersen (.922) tonight. Andersen was mercy-pulled against the Lightning on Monday night, but he hasn’t had many bad games this season. Crawford has put up back to back >.960 games for Chicago, but otherwise hasn’t been lights-out this season by any means through 28 games.
Notes
- Tonight is Game 70 on the season. We’re getting down the stretch here…
- Speaking of Game 70, the Bruins lost in their 70th game of the season last night. The Leafs can pull to within 2 points of catching them with a win tonight.
It’s a national broadcast on both sides of the border tonight (because Chicago!) – you can catch this one on NBCSN and Sportsnet.
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