Here are 5 things to watch for…

I don’t think anyone really buys into David Rittich or Frederik Andersen as All-Stars, but they will be and while it’s not on the same embarrassment level as making Mike Smith an All-Star or making Mike Smith an Olympic Gold Medalist, I wouldn’t exactly expect a goaltending duel to occur given that Andersen has been pulled in 2 of his last 4 games, and let in 3 goals in the 3rd period of the last game to an incredibly crappy Devils team.

Timothy Liljegren is a shiny new toy that many of us have an excessive amount of hope around. Presently he’ll be spending his second game sitting in the press box and nothing about the Leafs management/coaching situation leads me to believe he’ll spend a third game there. It will be interesting to see who gives Liljegren his opportunity, and given that Liljegren is a right shot, a bad night from Cody Ceci could lead to him finally being scratched for a night. Alternatively, the Leafs haven’t had any issue with scratching Marincin before and Sandin sitting buys a bit more decision time on the ELC contract sliding situation (they are going to burn it, by the way) so we’ll see if the Leafs defense step up their games to try and stay out of the press box.

Some of you may be choosing to watch the CHL Top Prospects game and flip back over to the Leafs game from time to time, others will do the reverse, and some of you are going to have a couple of screens going. Either way, even if the Leafs don’t have a pick in the first round, I can’t stress this enough, don’t sleep on the Prospects Game. It’s a fun way to get to know some of the players even if it isn’t the most telling of their true talents. At the very least it beats whatever the hell the panel is saying during intermission.

It’s easy (and fun) to laugh at players like Milan Lucic and Zac Rinaldo, but there is little doubt the Leafs struggle when they encounter physical teams. Throw Matthew Tkachuk and he’s elite agitation ability and the Leafs could have a tough night if they are pulled away from their skill game. Answering physicality with physicality isn’t really an option, so at best the Leafs can try and draw a few penalties out the experience or just be grateful for the time when Lucic and Rinaldo are on the ice and keep the puck moving so they aren’t pinned down by them.

Doesn’t it seem like these two teams are destined to make another trade together at some point? Leafs have been rumoured to be in on Hamonic since before my oldest kid was born, and the Flames need someone like Johnsson or Kapanen in their top six. While I’m not suggesting anything as exciting as these teams making a trade tonight, but it wouldn’t hurt to form some eye test opinions on players like Hamonic or Brodie.