Babcock announces Andersen returns in the Leafs net tonight
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LGD: Andersen Returns As Leafs Host Avs
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
By ThatsKappy
Jan 14, 2019, 17:36 EST
It’s Game Day!
The Leafs take to the ice tonight against the Colorado Avalanche for the first time this season. The Avs have struggled of late, with just one win in their last 10 games (1-7-2), but remain an offensive threat in the West with their two-headed offensive beast of Rantanen and MacKinnon.
In great news…
With all respect to Michael Hutchinson, it’s nice to return to normalcy.
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 73.0#51 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 83.7#8 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 80.1#8 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.95#12 FL1 |
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 74.0#38 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 85.2#7 C |  KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 73.2#54 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.46#3 FL2 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 72.5#63 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 76.3#41 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 75.1#38 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 74.66#3 FL3 |
 PAR LINDHOLM Rating: 70.9#93 LW |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 68.4#191 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 70.8#94 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.02#20 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 80.0#5 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 73.1#38 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.57#8 DL1 |
 JAKE GARDINER Rating: 77.7#9 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.3#70 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.48#10 DL2 |
 TRAVIS DERMOTT Rating: 73.9#38 LD |  IGOR OZHIGANOV Rating: 72.1#52 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 73.01#6 DL3 |
The lines remain the same. William Nylander continues to skate on Nazem Kadri’s wing, Tyler Ennis is still out, and Nikita Zaitsev is still a thing.
Avs Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 GABRIEL LANDESKOG Rating: 79.1#11 LW |  NATHAN MACKINNON Rating: 89.0#2 C |  MIKKO RANTANEN Rating: 82.0#3 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 83.38#2 FL1 |
 JT COMPHER Rating: 71.6#79 LW |  ALEXANDER KERFOOT Rating: 74.4#53 C |  COLIN WILSON Rating: 70.1#100 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 72.01#23 FL2 |
 MATTHEW NIETO Rating: 70.4#101 LW |  CARL SODERBERG Rating: 72.9#88 C |  MATT CALVERT Rating: 71.0#91 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.41#23 FL3 |
 TYSON JOST Rating: 71.2#84 LW |  SHELDON DRIES Rating: 71.8#117 C |  SVEN ANDRIGHETTO Rating: 71.5#84 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.50#5 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 SAMUEL GIRARD Rating: 72.6#61 LD |  ERIK JOHNSON Rating: 73.6#37 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 73.07#25 DL1 |
 IAN COLE Rating: 71.5#79 LD |  TYSON BARRIE Rating: 79.1#11 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 75.34#4 DL2 |
 RYAN GRAVES Rating: 73.4#48 LD |  NIKITA ZADOROV Rating: 69.7#117 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.55#12 DL3 |
The Avs are pretty much as advertised. The top line is intensively prolific offensively, and Tyson Barrie is an assist machine on the back end. Between the pipes, the Avs have had their woes this season, and the Leafs would certainly like to take advantage of that weakness.
Starting Goalies
Expect Semyon Varlamov (.909) and Frederik Andersen (.923) to duke it out tonight. Andersen hasn’t played since December 22nd versus the Rangers, and will look to start off 2019 strong.
Puck Drop is at 7pm ET on TSN4.
Breaking News
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