LGD: Squashing the Flying V
9 years ago
It’s the marquee Tuesday match-up that everyone’s been waiting patiently for as the Leafs take on their longtime rivals: the Anaheim “no longer mighty” Ducks. The stakes are high tonight as the winner gets to keep their magic beans capable of powering their sky-high PDO’s, while the loser’s will get nothing except the mumps.
The last time these two played was back on March 10, a game the Leafs won 3-1 to push their record to 35-23-8. A playoff berth was all but certain afterwards I’m assuming (I have a regressive memory disorder that completely blacked out anything that happened from March 16 to April 13, so I’m actually not sure, but I mean 78 points in 66 games? Even the Leafs couldn’t blow that, right?)
The Leafs
No big changes in Leafs land. Super weird that Carlyle has Kessel on the second line though, I’d consider a switch? I’m also not very keen about the Gardiner – Holzer pairing. The former has been a mess this year, the latter is not an NHL defenseman.
Projected Lines via DailyFaceoff.com
Winnik – Kadri – Santorelli
van Riemsdyk – Bozak – Kessel
Lupul – Holland – Clarkson
Booth – Smith – Panik
Phaneuf – Franson
Gardiner – Holzer
Rielly – Robidas
The Ducks
Please look at these lines and explain how this team is first place in the NHL, because I, for one, do not understand. Rene Bourque! First Line! Ben Lovejoy! First Pair! Sure they’re battling the mumps thanks to Corey Perry, but this looks bad.
Projected Lines via DailyFaceoff.com
Bourque – Getzlaf – Smith-Pelly
Beleskey – Kesler – Palmieri
Cogliano – Rakell – Silfverberg
Maroon – Thompson – Jackman
Fowler – Lovejoy
Fistric – Lindholm
Stoner – Vatanan
Starting Goalies
Jonathan Bernier gets the start, as expected since he is Nelson Mandela incarnate to the Leafs brass. He’s gotten 21 starts this year to Reimer’s nine. They’ve both been good so it’s not an issue, but I would’ve liked to see Reimer get a vote of confidence after two great wins.
Goldberg gets the start tonight.
Ok, but actually it’s Frederik Andersen for the Ducks getting his 19th straight start. Something tells me that’s not ideal, but my fantasy team is not complaining. Remember everyone anointing John Gibson as the next Nelson Mandela? Good times.
What To Look Out For:
- A new camera angle that is fixed on Corey Perry in quarantine for the entire game.
- Both teams getting all that shot quality and the game end 7-6. Or is that save quality and the games ends in a 1-0 shootout?
- The Leafs have won five straight. The Ducks have won seven straight. So look out for one of those streaks to end (scorching hot take alert).
- Jason Blake coming out of retirement for one last hurrah against his former team.
- Bobby Cappucino’s column, the only column that is his.
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