The Leafs are in Newark tonight for a date with the New Jersey Devils. One might say that a matchup against a struggling team like the Devils might be ideal to get things back on track, but we said that against Florida too, didn’t we?

In all seriousness, the Leafs are looking to break out of a frustrating slump that’s seen them go 1-2-2 over their last five games, while being outscored 20-14 over that span. They’ll need to be better tonight, against a struggling opponent or not.

Leafs Lines

LW	C	RW	Forwards
ZACH HYMAN Rating: 73.0#56 LW	JOHN TAVARES Rating: 80.9#15 C	MITCH MARNER Rating: 77.8#17 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 77.25#16 FL1
ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 74.9#38 LW	AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 86.0#5 C	KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 74.4#42 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 78.44#2 FL2
PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 74.3#42 LW	NAZEM KADRI Rating: 77.0#36 C	WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 76.2#28 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 75.84#1 FL3
TYLER ENNIS Rating: 70.1#119 LW	PAR LINDHOLM Rating: 70.8#144 C	CONNOR BROWN Rating: 69.4#111 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 70.08#20 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS	Defense
MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 79.8#5 LD	RON HAINSEY Rating: 72.8#40 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 76.27#12 DL1
JAKE GARDINER Rating: 77.8#8 LD	NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.0#75 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 74.38#14 DL2
TRAVIS DERMOTT Rating: 74.3#33 LD	IGOR OZHIGANOV Rating: 72.1#50 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 73.17#5 DL3

No changes here tonight, for better or worse. The forward groups have been generally fine, but the defense continues to leave something to be desired. That was on full display in Sunrise on Saturday night. But alas, here we are. Same groups up front, same six on the back end.

Devils Lines

LW	C	RW	Forwards
TAYLOR HALL Rating: 84.5#3 LW	NICO HISCHIER Rating: 76.1#42 C	KYLE PALMIERI Rating: 80.5#7 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 80.37#6 FL1
MARCUS JOHANSSON Rating: 73.4#70 LW	PAVEL ZACHA Rating: 70.1#159 C	JESPER BRATT Rating: 71.5#87 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 71.66#28 FL2
MILES WOOD Rating: 71.0#98 LW	TRAVIS ZAJAC Rating: 73.5#67 C	BLAKE COLEMAN Rating: 73.5#69 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 72.66#12 FL3
BRIAN BOYLE Rating: 71.4#90 LW	BRETT SENEY	JOHN QUENNEVILLE Rating: 72.3#72 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 71.85#3 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS	Defense
ANDY GREENE Rating: 70.9#102 LD	DAMON SEVERSON Rating: 71.7#58 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 71.31#28 DL1
WILL BUTCHER Rating: 75.8#22 LD	SAMI VATANEN Rating: 74.1#34 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 74.95#4 DL2
MIRCO MUELLER Rating: 70.2#116 LD	BEN LOVEJOY Rating: 69.1#95 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 69.65#29 DL3

Not much to say here. The Devils are what they are, and not even 31 points in 29 games form Taylor Hall can undo that. They’re 25th in the league in goals against, with a team save percentage just a hair below .908. This is a team that is simply not scoring enough, and can’t keep the puck out of their own net.

Starting Goalies

Looks like Keith Kinkaid (11-8-6, .906) versus Frederik Andersen (17-9-1, .923) tonight. Andersen has faltered a little of late, with a save percentage over .900 in just two of his last five games. It’s been a long ways away from his Vezina-calibre performances of the rest of the season, but it shouldn’t persist beyond a blip.

Kinkaid, meanwhile, has had an overall down season after taking over the crease for the Devils last season en route to a wild card playoff berth. He is, however, riding two consecutive strong outings – with a 1-0-1 record to show in that span.

Notes

I, Maple Leafs Nation Insider That’s Kappy, will be at the game tonight. I will provide updates.
Puck Drop is at 7pm on TSN4.

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Leafs Lines

Devils Lines

Starting Goalies

Notes

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