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LGD: Hurry, Canes!
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
By ThatsKappy
Apr 2, 2019, 11:56 EDT
Good morning!
Fresh off of their playoff-clinching victory in Brooklyn last night, the Leafs are back at it tonight, hosting the Carolina Hurricanes at Scotiabank Arena.
The Canes are coming off of a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that’s left their playoff hopes still uncertain. With the Canadiens and Blue Jackets both in action tonight as well, tonight marks the most important game of the Hurricanes’ season to date.
The Leafs, then, will look to play spoilers – a win could put the Hurricanes’ playoff hopes in jeopardy, while a loss could make Saturday’s regular season finale all the more meaningful for the Montreal Canadiens.
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 75.5#37 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 83.8#8 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 79.3#13 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 79.53#8 FL1 |
 KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 74.0#49 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 84.5#6 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 76.2#28 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 78.24#2 FL2 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 72.9#71 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 77.4#35 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 71.1#95 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.83#5 FL3 |
 TREVOR MOORE Rating: 72.7#77 LW |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 69.4#178 C |  TYLER ENNIS Rating: 72.3#73 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.46#7 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 79.8#5 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 73.5#47 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.64#11 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 76.7#18 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.6#76 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.14#12 DL2 |
 CALLE ROSEN Rating: 73.3#55 LD |  TRAVIS DERMOTT Rating: 74.2#35 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 73.77#3 DL3 |
- Andreas Johnsson could make his way back into the lineup tonight, which would likely slide Connor Brown back onto the fourth line, Kasperi Kapanen onto the third, and bump one of Trevor Moore or Tyler Ennis into the press box.
- Jake Gardiner (back) remains out, which means Calle Rosen looks to make it 2 goals in 2 games as he makes his second appearance of the season.
Hurricanes Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 NINO NIEDERREITER Rating: 77.5#20 LW |  SEBASTIAN AHO Rating: 81.2#6 C |  JUSTIN WILLIAMS Rating: 77.6#19 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.76#12 FL1 |
 ANDREI SVECHNIKOV Rating: 74.7#44 LW |  JORDAN STAAL Rating: 77.6#34 C |  TEUVO TERAVAINEN Rating: 79.8#9 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.39#5 FL2 |
 MICHEAL FERLAND Rating: 73.1#66 LW |  LUCAS WALLMARK Rating: 72.2#98 C |  JORDAN MARTINOOK Rating: 71.2#91 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 72.20#19 FL3 |
 BROCK MCGINN Rating: 72.1#84 LW |  GREG MCKEGG Rating: 69.3#181 C |  WARREN FOEGELE Rating: 70.9#99 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.76#19 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 JACCOB SLAVIN Rating: 77.1#14 LD |  DOUGIE HAMILTON Rating: 79.6#12 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 78.35#6 DL1 |
 BRETT PESCE Rating: 76.7#24 LD |  JUSTIN FAULK Rating: 78.2#17 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 77.45#3 DL2 |
 HAYDN FLEURY Rating: 70.6#115 LD |  TREVOR VAN RIEMSDYK Rating: 72.8#60 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.67#16 DL3 |
- Look at this fun and good list of players who didn’t get traded for WIlliam Nylander!
- Clark Bishop and Calvin de Hann are out for the Canes tonight. Haydn Fleury is back up, playing his first game since March 19th.
Who’s Hot
- 50 Goals is still theoretically within reach for John Tavares, with three games left to put up four. Can he do it?
- Likewise, Auston Matthews needs three goals to hit 40 for the second time in three seasons – and this time after missing 13 games in the fall.
- Dougie Hamilton has two goals in his last four games, and Sebastian Aho has put up 30 goals and 82 points as a 21-year old.
Starting Goalies
- Garret Sparks (.901) gets the nod for the Leafs. He’s searching for redemption after a nightmare outing in Ottawa on Saturday.
- Petr Mrazek (.911) starts for the Hurricanes, which means we don’t get to lose our minds watching Sparks vs. McElhinney. Shame!
Puck drop is at 7:30pm ET on TSN4!
Breaking News
- Gerard Gallant expresses interest in Toronto job: Leafs Morning Take
- Maple Leafs Draft 2026: The recent history of the 60th overall pick
- Maple Leafs shouldn’t be picky with trade return for Morgan Rielly
- Maple Leafs reportedly interviewing Peter Laviolette, Patrick Roy for head coach
- Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky dives into process behind recruiting Gavin McKenna