Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
LGD: Firing Back
Photo credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
By ThatsKappy
Dec 6, 2017, 11:58 ESTUpdated: Dec 6, 2017, 21:44 EST
It’s Game Day!
In a rare home game this month, the Leafs (17-10-1) welcome the Calgary Flames (14-12-1) to town. The two teams squared off in Calgary last week, with the Leafs winning that game 4-1.
The Leafs will look for a bounce-back effort tonight after a frustrating game in Vancouver on Saturday. Here’s to hoping they’ll be able to take advantage of a struggling Flames team that has lost 2 straight and currently sits on the outside looking in in the Pacific Division.
Leafs Lines
Tyler Bozak is back tonight after a bout of food poisoning. Connor Brown remains on Auston Matthews’ wing, and Connor Carrick remains in the press box. Roman Polak will be in the lineup for a fifth straight game.
Flames Lines
For Calgary, Mikael Backlund is officially in after being questionable due to illness. Former Leaf legend Kris Versteeg, meanwhile, is out month-to-month after undergoing hip surgery.
Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan are still red-hot, so look for that top line to be pretty scary, as always.
Starting Goalies
Mike Smith and Frederik Andersen will go head-to-head once again. Andersen ultimately came out victorious during their first meeting, and he’s been red-hot of late, with his save percentage up to .919 on the season.
Smith, meanwhile, has struggled of late. He’s posted a sub-.900 in four of his last five starts, including last week’s game against the Leafs.
Notes
- This is the first of only three home games for the Leafs this month. After tonight, they’ll host Edmonton on Sunday and Carolina on the 19th.
- What’s the over/under on whether we’ll get a Brian Burke untied-tie interview in which he’s asked about Auston Matthews?
- A win tonight would put the Leafs ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights in the standings, which is a sentence that I’m writing in December.
Puck Drop is at 7:30 ET on Sportsnet.
LGD BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PINT
Make the Pint your home for all things game day. We give away a free pound of wings during every game either home or away. 4.40$ mugs of Bud and Bud Lights.
Breaking News
- Forget Claude Giroux—The Leafs should target Patrick Kane: Leafs Morning Take
- Maple Leafs hire Daniel Alfredsson as associate head coach, John Gruden and Brad Werenka as assistants
- Jim Hiller tasked with balancing Maple Leafs’ versatility and lineup chemistry
- How the need for speed informed the Maple Leafs’ free agency class
- Maple Leafs don’t have cap space but have flexibility