LGD: Whalers Redux

Just a couple months ago, the Islanders were written off the worst team in the eastern conference, and it felt like essentially everything was going wrong for the whole franchise with added talks of venue problems and the looming contract John Tavares will need. Those last two points still stand, but the team itself has been playing some better hockey over the last little while (or at least getting better results) and actually sit just three points back of Toronto with the same amount of games played. Like the Leafs, they could be in the thick of the playoff hunt when things get down to the wire, so tonight’s game in Brooklyn has plenty of importance behind it.

The biggest part of the Isles’ success has been the play of Thomas Greiss, as he now boasts a 0.924 sv% on the season, good for top five in the league for goaltenders with 20-or-more starts. Otherwise this isn’t a particularly strong club, hovering near the bottom of the league in terms of shot-attempt metrics all season. Tavares still leads the charge, obviously, but he’s being out-scored by rookie Mitch Marner (44 to 43) this season when it comes to simple point production. Toronto should have the edge in talent here, no question. 

No surprises here. Andersen (0.916 sv%) goes for the Leafs, Greiss gets the net for New York. 

The Leafs are coming off a wild win in Boston, snapping a three-game losing streak and getting back to what they do best: Score a boatload of goals. Greiss has been incredible this season, but his last outing was a shelling to the Wings. It’ll be interesting to see if Toronto can get to him and continue to get their offence back on track. Speaking of offence, Marner has pulled to the outright lead for rookie scoring thanks to now piling up 31 assists. He could get into the top ten league-wide in that regard with a couple helpers this evening.