Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
LGD: Pajama Bowl II
By ThatsKappy
Feb 28, 2019, 15:02 EST
Good afternoon, folks. It’s a Game Day.
Islanders fans are loading up their diapers in preparation for the return of John Tavares to his hometown of Long Island hockey club (oh wait, that’s Toronto).
That’s right, the Islanders are back in Long Island, where Nassau Coliseum is somehow still a thing. It’s a Thursday night showdown between your Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Hockey Islanders.
Leafs Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 74.5#43 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 81.7#14 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 78.4#15 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.19#15 FL1 |
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 76.0#32 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 84.7#5 C |  KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 74.6#42 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 78.47#2 FL2 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 73.1#64 LW |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 75.8#48 C |  CONNOR BROWN Rating: 70.9#90 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.25#9 FL3 |
 TYLER ENNIS Rating: 72.4#79 LW |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 70.0#162 C |  TREVOR MOORE Rating: 74.1#48 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 72.18#3 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 80.2#5 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 72.7#58 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.41#11 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 75.9#20 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.4#79 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.68#13 DL2 |
 JUSTIN HOLL Rating: 74.2#34 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.80#9 DL3 |
Oh my GOD.
So yeah, just don’t think too much about those D-pairings or the fact that they’ll be playing in front of Garret Sparks.
Islanders Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ANDERS LEE Rating: 76.9#25 LW |  BROCK NELSON Rating: 73.9#67 C |  JORDAN EBERLE Rating: 75.2#38 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 75.31#26 FL1 |
 ANDREW LADD Rating: 72.6#72 LW |  MATHEW BARZAL Rating: 79.6#21 C |  JOSH BAILEY Rating: 73.8#49 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 75.36#16 FL2 |
 ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER Rating: 73.0#67 LW |  VALTTERI FILPPULA Rating: 71.0#141 C |  LEO KOMAROV Rating: 68.8#135 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.91#28 FL3 |
 MATT MARTIN Rating: 69.6#129 LW |  CASEY CIZIKAS Rating: 74.0#63 C |  CAL CLUTTERBUCK Rating: 70.8#92 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.48#10 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 NICK LEDDY Rating: 74.5#31 LD |  JOHNNY BOYCHUK Rating: 74.8#30 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.67#15 DL1 |
 ADAM PELECH Rating: 72.4#69 LD |  RYAN PULOCK Rating: 72.5#60 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.49#19 DL2 |
 SCOTT MAYFIELD Rating: 73.1#53 LD |  DEVON TOEWS Rating: 75.0#29 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 74.00#5 DL3 |
To summarize, that’s:
Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares
Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares
Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares
Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares
Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares
Not John Tavares – Not John Tavares
Nice.
Who’s Hot
Andreas Johnsson is red hot for the Leafs, with four goals in his last four games and 19 now on the season. Here’s to hoping he doesn’t price himself out of a new deal with the Leafs and sign an offer sheet with John Tavares and the Islan–oh wait.
The Isles have lost four of their last five, but Anders Lee has three goals in his last five games. John Tavares also has that, by the way.
Starting Goalies
Robin Lehner (.930) and Garret Sparks (.908) is your matchup tonight. Oh, by the way, the Leafs are on the second half of a back-to-back. Should be fun!
Puck Drop is at 7:00pm. Somehow this game is only on TSN4 and isn’t being broadcast nationally in the US, so the NHL is the real winner in all of this.
Breaking News
- Gavin McKenna might be a Mitch Marner replacement but not in year one
- 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