LGD: Vegas Valentine
By ThatsKappy
5 years agoHappy Valentines Day!
The collective loves of our collective lives take to the ice tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights, in Las Vegas. The Leafs are 5-1-0 in their last 6 and 6-1-1 in their last 8. Let’s keep the train rolling!
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 74.4#39 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 83.0#8 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 78.7#13 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.68#14 FL1 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 73.4#55 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 83.2#7 C |  KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 74.0#53 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.87#5 FL2 |
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 77.4#18 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 77.4#36 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 75.9#34 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 76.91#1 FL3 |
 PAR LINDHOLM Rating: 70.9#105 LW |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 70.3#166 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 70.9#96 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.69#20 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 80.3#5 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 73.3#43 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.78#11 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 76.9#14 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.6#75 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.28#12 DL2 |
 JAKE GARDINER Rating: 77.0#13 LD |  TRAVIS DERMOTT Rating: 75.7#27 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 76.32#1 DL3 |
So here we have it. It would seem that the price to pay for Andreas Johnsson rightfully moving up in the lineup is Ron Hainsey back on the top pairing. The optimal lineup remains elusive, I suppose.
No Tyler Ennis yet either, it would seem. He remains on the sidelines despite being healthy and ready to go.
Vegas Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT Rating: 79.5#10 LW |  WILLIAM KARLSSON Rating: 78.9#30 C |  REILLY SMITH Rating: 75.9#35 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.10#18 FL1 |
 MAX PACIORETTY Rating: 76.9#22 LW |  PAUL STASTNY Rating: 76.8#40 C |  ALEX TUCH Rating: 76.2#28 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.64#7 FL2 |
 BRANDON PIRRI Rating: 74.1#66 LW |  CODY EAKIN Rating: 72.3#113 C |  VALENTIN ZYKOV Rating: 73.5#56 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.29#8 FL3 |
 WILL CARRIER Rating: 71.9#85 LW |  PIERRE-ÉDOUARD BELLEMARE Rating: 70.0#171 C |  RYAN REAVES Rating: 70.6#100 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.85#17 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 BRAYDEN MCNABB Rating: 73.0#58 LD |  NATE SCHMIDT Rating: 77.4#21 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 75.20#17 DL1 |
 DERYK ENGELLAND Rating: 72.6#50 LD |  SHEA THEODORE Rating: 77.9#9 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 75.26#7 DL2 |
 JON MERRILL Rating: 71.7#81 LD |  COLIN MILLER Rating: 76.7#24 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 74.17#3 DL3 |
While the Golden Knights initially seemed destined for a sophomore slump, they were far from slumpers – until recently. Vegas sits third in the Pacific Divsion, but has now lost six of its last 8 games.
Vegas’ relative success this season has remained a team effort to this point – with no player hitting the 20-goal mark yet. Jonathan Marchessault is knocking on the door with 19, but this team has been scoring by committee. They’re 14th in league scoring and 8th in goals against – stingy on both ends, but more or less getting the job done.
Starting Goalies
Frederik Andersen (.923) and Marc-Andre Fleury (.909) are the guys tonight. Fleury makes his 51st start of the season in Vegas’ 59th game, while Andersen – a workhorse – makes just start number 40. Some of that is injury-related on Toronto’s end, but you’ve got to be happy with Andersen being more rested as you look to the far end of the spectrum.
Notes
- Auston Matthews is chasing goal number 100 in his career tonight. Can he find some magic in Vegas?
- The William Nylander train keeps on chugging. He’s coming off of one of his best games on the season despite missing a gimmie empty-netter, but who’s to doubt his chances of topping that tonight?
- The Leafs should be looking to gain some ground in the Atlantic Division as the race tightens between them, Montreal and Boston. Home ice is nowhere near a guarantee in the playoffs, but a win tonight would go a long way as all three teams make it to Game 57.
The Late Night Crew can catch this one on Sportsnet Ontario at 10pm ET.
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