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LGD: Let’s Look Better Than Last Time
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Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Megan Kim
Oct 23, 2017, 15:25 EDT
Comments
It’s gameday!
Okay, okay. Let’s address the elephant in the room. I know it’s been addressed several times already on this site, but, uh. The Leafs are playing the still-undefeated-in-regulation Los Angeles Kings, and they’re doing it with Roman Polak in the lineup.
And, uh, the last time they played the Kings at the ACC, they lost 7-0.
Right. Okay. This time will be better. They can do this.
Also of note: earlier today, the Leafs announced that defenseman Calle Rosen had been sent to the Marlies. Makes sense, what with Polak back. *insert pained smile*
In addition, Eric Fehr was placed on waivers. Looks like Dominic Moore will be your fourth line centre for the time being.
Anyway, with today’s skate being optional, we’re piecing together lines from yesterday’s practice, but of course, Fehr and Rosen were skating yesterday, so we’re making educated guesses here. Per Leafs beat writer Kristen Shilton, Polak is likely going to play with Borgman tonight. Carrick, who is, if you remember, coming off a minor injury, will sit. *another pained smile*

Leafs Projected Lines (via Kristen Shilton)

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Komarov
JvR-Bozak-Brown
Martin-Moore-Marner
Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Borgman-Polak
Andersen
McElhinney
Scratches: Josh Leivo, Connor Carrick

Kings Projected Lines (via Jon Rosen)

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Pearson-Shore-Toffoli
Cammalleri-Kempe-Lewis
Andreoff-Laich-Dowd
Forbort-Doughty
Muzzin-Martinez
Fantenberg-Folin
Quick
Budaj
Scratches: Justin Auger, Kurtis MacDermid

Quick Hits

  • The Kings are currently without Jeff Carter, which is certainly nice for the Leafs.
  • The Leafs lay down Roman Polak on the third pair. The Kings raise you Top Line Dustin Brown. That being said, the guy had a four-point game the other day against the Columbus Blue Jackets, so maybe I’ll be eating crow by the end of tonight.
  • Would I rather have a Borgman-Carrick pair than a Borgman-Polak pair? Yes, every day of the week. But if Carrick still isn’t at 100%, fine. I’ll give Babcock a pass on this. If he is fully healthy… Well. We’ll have to address this later.
  • Mitch Marner is still on the fourth line. To be fair, though, he’s still with the top power play unit, and against the Sens he played over 15 minutes. He’s getting ice time, you guys. Don’t stress too much over line rushes.
  • Oh, and ex-Leaf Brooks Laich makes his triumphant return to Toronto. Laich’s time is Toronto probably wasn’t a ton of fun for him from a professional standpoint, and it’s great to see him back in the NHL.
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