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LGD: Gritty in the City
By Jon Steitzer
Mar 15, 2019, 15:29 EDT
Howdy folk’s. Is it a good sign when your mascot is your biggest star? Probably not. Anyways, the Flyera have been trucking along and refusing to let go of their playoff hopes. In many ways they are a less sad version on the Edmonton Oilers.
On the other hand you have the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that has had a pretty tough week via illness, injury, public statements, and four periods of really rough hockey. The third period against the Blackhawks should give us some hope for tonight. And even if they blow it, they’ll look dapper in their St. Pats jerseys.
Lineups
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 73.2#62 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 82.9#8 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 79.6#13 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.58#9 FL1 |
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 74.9#34 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 83.3#6 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 74.5#42 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.54#5 FL2 |
 TREVOR MOORE Rating: 73.5#52 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 77.7#31 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 70.3#103 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.82#7 FL3 |
 TYLER ENNIS Rating: 73.0#65 LW |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 68.8#183 C |  NIC PETAN Rating: 69.2#121 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.31#24 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 80.3#5 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 73.5#47 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.87#11 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 75.7#20 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.6#79 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.63#15 DL2 |
 MARTIN MARINCIN Rating: 71.2#98 LD |  JUSTIN HOLL Rating: 73.9#39 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.51#9 DL3 |
That’s one Holl of a lineup. I’ll be mailing Kapanen, Hyman, Gardiner, and Dermott get well soon edible gift baskets as soon as this post is done.
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 OSKAR LINDBLOM Rating: 73.9#46 LW |  SEAN COUTURIER Rating: 82.1#12 C | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.07#13 FL1 | |
 JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK Rating: 77.5#19 LW |  NOLAN PATRICK Rating: 72.9#85 C |  CLAUDE GIROUX Rating: 82.1#4 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.49#6 FL2 |
 MICHAEL RAFFL Rating: 72.0#86 LW |  SCOTT LAUGHTON Rating: 72.2#104 C |  TRAVIS KONECNY Rating: 75.9#43 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.36#12 FL3 |
 PHIL VARONE Rating: 70.3#122 LW |  CORBAN KNIGHT Rating: 72.6#91 C |  RYAN HARTMAN Rating: 71.7#83 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.56#6 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 IVAN PROVOROV Rating: 74.9#31 LD |  TRAVIS SANHEIM Rating: 74.0#37 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.47#18 DL1 |
 SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE Rating: 77.2#13 LD | DL2 Rating Rating: 77.17#2 DL2 | |
 ROBERT HAGG Rating: 69.4#128 LD |  RADKO GUDAS Rating: 71.4#80 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.43#24 DL3 |
Awww crap. Radko Gudas is going to injure the rest of our good players, isn’t he?
Anyway, JVR is back in town and that’s a little fun, right? RIGHT?
Goalers
Mike Babcock is giving Freddy Andersen a chance to redeem himself after a couple of rough nights, and since it’s a back to back, you Sparks fans out there don’t need to worry about not getting to see your guy this weekend as well.
Since the Flyera are on the second half of their back to back, we’re spared Carter Hart and will see Brian Elliott instead. That’s something potentially going the Leafs way.
Anyways, game starts at 7PM ET, and can be found on TSN 4.
Breaking News
- Maple Leafs’ activity on Day 1 of free agency indicates heavy investment into next two years
- Ryan Tverberg reportedly signs 1-year, $850K extension with Maple Leafs
- Leafs development camp scrimmage notebook: McKenna’s playmaking, Koblar shines, Nansi wins superlatives, quick hits
- Gavin McKenna confirms he’ll wear No. 92 for Maple Leafs
- Instant Reaction: Maple Leafs add speed, upside on 2-year deal worth $1.55M for Emil Andrae