LGD: Please Beat the Sens
By Megan Kim
6 years agoHAPPY GAME DAY! THE LEAFS HAVE LOST FOUR STRAIGHT!
Now that we’ve addressed that elephant in the room, we can get on with our lives and this preview.
Suffice it to say that the Leafs have not been playing their best hockey of late. I think we were maybe hoping that fatigue was getting to the team after a really busy first half, but they’re back from their NHL-mandated bye week and frankly… they don’t look any better. It’s possible they look worse.
Frustration has been boiling over among the fanbase — and the players. Freddie Andersen had some choice words for his team. Maybe that will spur them to a better effort tonight in their third of four meetings with Ottawa this season.
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 | |
|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY |  RON HAINSEY |
 JAKE GARDINER |  CONNOR CARRICK |
 TRAVIS DERMOTT |  ROMAN POLAK |
As far as forward lines go, we’re about par for the course. Nothing has significantly changed, unless you count the Brown-for-Marner swap, but I wouldn’t read too much into that. Babs has done this before this season, and no, it’s not ideal that neither Marner nor Brown are in the top six and Uncle Leo is… But it is what it is.
Defense-wise, the Leafs are still without Nikita Zaitsev. Morgan Rielly was on the ice this morning for the Leafs’ optional skate, so we’ll be optimistic and hope that he’s tentatively in. At the very least, that upper body injury from last game doesn’t seem too serious.
Travis Dermott is, alas, attached to the anchor that is Roman Polak. Free him, etc. We could have Borgman and Dermott, but WE DON’T GET TO HAVE NICE THINGS.
Senators Lines
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 MIKE HOFFMAN |  MATT DUCHENE |  BOBBY RYAN |
 RYAN DZINGEL |  DERICK BRASSARD |  MARK STONE |
 ZACK SMITH |  NATE THOMPSON |  TOM PYATT |
 ALEXANDRE BURROWS |  FILIP CHLAPIK |  GABRIEL DUMONT |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 JOHNNY ODUYA |  ERIK KARLSSON |
 DION PHANEUF |  CODY CECI |
 MARK BOROWIECKI |  THOMAS CHABOT |
It is maybe telling that in this, the year of our Lord 2018, Johnny Oduya is playing on the first defense pair… With Erik Karlsson. (Side note: When’s EK65 gonna be a Leaf?)
The Senators are having a miserable season, but they have come away with a victory in both games against the Leafs so far.
To be perfectly honest, there’s not much more to be said about this team. Let’s see if the #elite Mark Stone can lead the Sens to another win against Auston Matthews and the Leafs.
Starting Goalies
Unless something changes, it should be Andersen vs. Anderson tonight. (Our Andersen better.)
Craig Anderson has had a pretty nightmarish season — he’s a good chunk of the reason the Senators are as low in the standings as they are. While he has been solid against the Leafs, hopefully the offense can dig deep and put some behind him tonight.
Freddie Andersen has been good of late. Unfortunately, his team has not been, so he’s riding a four-game losing streak. #yikes
Maybe that will change tonight. Maybe it won’t, and we all hit the panic button and descend into despair. Eat at Arby’s.
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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