LGD: Storm Chasing
By ThatsKappy
5 years agoGood afternoon folks. It’s a Game Day!
The Leafs are back home after a 2-0-1 Western Canadian road swing. Their opponents? The powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Leafs have squared off against divisional rival Tampa twice this season, both times in Tampa Bay. They split those games, but looked the better team in both. Tonight will be a massive test, with the Leafs still down two of their better defensemen, but a win would see the Leafs move to within 2 points of reclaiming home ice advantage from the Boston Bruins. It’s gonna be a good one.
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 74.6#37 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 82.6#9 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 80.7#8 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 79.28#9 FL1 |
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 74.9#33 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 83.1#7 C |  KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 73.9#51 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.29#6 FL2 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 73.4#60 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 78.3#30 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 74.8#43 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 75.53#1 FL3 |
 TYLER ENNIS Rating: 73.9#49 LW |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 70.3#162 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 70.1#107 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.43#9 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 79.9#6 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 73.5#43 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.67#12 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 76.0#19 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.3#81 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.67#16 DL2 |
 MARTIN MARINCIN Rating: 71.5#90 LD |  IGOR OZHIGANOV Rating: 71.9#71 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.71#17 DL3 |
As mentioned, no Gardiner or Dermott for the Leafs. Of note, however:
That’s good news for Leafs fans, with the playoffs now just over four weeks away.
Also:
The Leafs might be wise to let Hyman sit and recover if he’s at all banged up, especially with Trevor Moore and Nic Petan waiting in the wings. Alas, I don’t make the rules.
Lightning Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ONDREJ PALAT Rating: 73.8#50 LW |  STEVEN STAMKOS Rating: 82.7#8 C |  J.T. MILLER Rating: 73.4#73 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 76.65#19 FL1 |
 TYLER JOHNSON Rating: 73.5#58 LW |  BRAYDEN POINT Rating: 82.5#10 C |  NIKITA KUCHEROV Rating: 90.2#1 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 82.05#1 FL2 |
 ALEX KILLORN Rating: 73.6#67 LW |  ANTHONY CIRELLI Rating: 74.5#59 C |  MATHIEU JOSEPH Rating: 72.3#72 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.46#11 FL3 |
 ADAM ERNE Rating: 71.3#106 LW |  CEDRIC PAQUETTE Rating: 69.7#173 C |  YANNI GOURDE Rating: 74.6#36 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.87#3 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 VICTOR HEDMAN Rating: 80.7#5 LD |  MIKHAIL SERGACHEV Rating: 74.1#42 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 77.38#10 DL1 |
 RYAN MCDONAGH Rating: 77.3#13 LD |  ERIK CERNAK Rating: 74.0#37 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 75.63#6 DL2 |
 BRAYDON COBURN Rating: 72.4#70 LD |  JAN RUTTA Rating: 71.2#83 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.77#15 DL3 |
The Lightning, like the Leafs, are down a couple of defensemen. Beyond that, what’s there left to say? The Lightning are crazy deep, crazy good, and have already clinched a playoff spot (as if there was any doubt).
Starting Goalies
It’s a clash of the titans between the pipes tonight. Frederik Andersen (.924) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (.931) will duke it out at either end. The Leafs are going to have to play a tight game if they want to squeak out a win against a team with Vasilevskiy. There’s little room for error.
Notes
- Auston Matthews is in a rut again. He’s pointless in his last four, goalless in his last six, and has just two points in his last seven games. Methinks he might be missing a certain linemate…
Puck Drop is at 7pm ET on Sportsnet Ontario.
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