LGD: Rearview Mirror
By ThatsKappy
6 years agoGood morning, folks!
The Leafs (36-20-5) take on the Florida Panthers (26-24-6) tonight.
A few things about this fact: the Panthers are the next best team points-wise in the Atlantic Division. Normally, this would be a fair time to warn everyone that objects in the mirror are closer than they may appear if they happen to have five games in hand on you, but the Panthers are uh… 19 points back of the Leafs for third in the Atlantic. Wow. That’s a bit of a gap.
This is only the second meeting between the divisional rivals (lol) this season. The Leafs most recently suffered a 2-1 shootout loss to the Panthers, and by recently, I mean all the way back on November 22nd. Feel old yet?
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN |  AUSTON MATTHEWS |  WILLIAM NYLANDER |
 PATRICK MARLEAU |  NAZEM KADRI |  MITCH MARNER |
 JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK |  TYLER BOZAK |  CONNOR BROWN |
 LEO KOMAROV |  DOMINIC MOORE |  KASPERI KAPANEN |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY |  RON HAINSEY |
 JAKE GARDINER |  NIKITA ZAITSEV |
 TRAVIS DERMOTT |  ROMAN POLAK |
Polak is in, Carrick is out. Despite missing practice today, Tyler Bozak has in fact not been traded to Seattle, and was simply taking a maintenance day. All is status quo in Leafland.
Panthers Lines
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 EVGENY DADONOV |  ALEKSANDER BARKOV |  NICK BJUGSTAD |
 JONATHAN HUBERDEAU |  VINCENT TROCHECK |  DENIS MALGIN |
 JAMIE MCGINN |  JARED MCCANN |  CONNOR BRICKLEY |
 MICHEAL HALEY |  DEREK MACKENZIE |  COLTON SCEVIOUR |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 AARON EKBLAD |  KEITH YANDLE |
 MICHAEL MATHESON |  MARK PYSYK |
 IAN MCCOSHEN |  ALEX PETROVIC |
The Panthers are a fully healthy team going into the trade deadline; an optimal place to be if you’re planning on selling, which the Panthers probably should (at least a little).
Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Vincent Trochek are all having themselves a season, each having already eclipsed 50 points. Michael Haley and Ian McCoshen may be made-up people, but also might play in front of 200 people every night and suffer from underexposure.
Starting Goalies
It’s Roberto Luongo and his contract versus Frederik Andersen and his beautiful ginger hair tonight.
As bad as his contract may be, Luongo is still rocking a .927 save percentage, albeit through just 16 games due to injury. Andersen, meanwhile, is poised to make his 51st start of the season, and is sporting a .921.
Notes
- Mitch Marner continues to be on an absolute tear. He’s got 4 goals and 9 points in his last five games. Don’t ever take my boy away from Nazem Kadri.
- James Reimer not starting tonight means I don’t have to decide which #34 is more lovely. It’s probably Auston anyways, but still.
Puck Drop is at 7pm ET on Sportsnet Ontario.
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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