GAMEDAY: Can Maple Leafs eat up another NHL bottom-feeder?
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (43-25-3) at SAN JOSE SHARKS (19-42-9)
When: Thursday, 10:30 p.m., SAP Center
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GAMEDAY: Can Maple Leafs eat up another NHL bottom-feeder? Back to video
TV: Sportsnet Ontario Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Maple Leafs -213, Sharks +168
THE BUZZ
William Nylander needs one goal to set a career-high of 41. The Maple Leafs winger might not want to be reminded that he has just three goals in 13 career games against San Jose. Not including fledgling Utah, Nylander has scored fewer goals only against Colorado. He has one goal in 16 career games versus the Avalanche … The Leafs play one of the National Hockey League bottom-feeders for the third game in a row — following a loss to Nashville and a win against Philadelphia — and will be seeking some revenge after the Sharks beat them 3-2 in Toronto on March 3. That night, San Jose erased a 2-0 Leafs lead in the third and won in a shootout when Fabian Zetterlund, who was traded to Ottawa days later, scored the deciding goal on Anthony Stolarz … How do the Sharks possibly measure success? Well, they’re in line to finish last overall in the NHL standings for the second year in a row. But with 47 points, they’ve already tied last season’s total, and they’ve cut their goal differential to minus-77 from minus-150 in 2023-24. That’s one way to show progress, we guess … Sharks star rookie Macklin Celebrini didn’t have a point in Toronto earlier this month but since then, he has eight points (three goals and five assists) in eight games … The Sharks haven’t played since Saturday, when they beat the visiting Boston Bruins 3-1. Five days between games? That’s language the Leafs don’t understand. And the game is Sharks’ seventh during an eight-game home stand. They’re 2-4-0 in the first six … In 2023-24, what would be Timothy Liljegren’s last full season with the Leafs, the defenceman played in 55 games and had 23 points, averaging 19 minutes 40 seconds of ice time a game. In 55 games with the Sharks since the Leafs traded him at the end of October, Liljegren has 12 points and is averaging 18 minutes 16 seconds.
THE NEWS
The Leafs hit the road for three games within shooting distance of a club record. With 20 road wins, they’re four short of tying the franchise mark of 24, set last year. The Leafs have seven road games remaining in the regular season … Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed after practice on Wednesday that forward Cam Lund will make his NHL debut. A second-round pick by the Sharks in 2022, Lund had 40 points in 37 games with Northeastern this season before signing with San Jose last week … The Leafs didn’t practise on Wednesday, using the day to travel to San Jose … In the likely event that Joseph Woll starts in goal for Toronto, he’ll carry a brief history against the Sharks into the game. In his only previous career match versus San Jose, Woll made 34 saves in a 4-1 Leafs win at the SAP Center on Nov. 26, 2021. It was Woll’s third NHL start.
THE QUOTE
“That would be sweet. I’m sure there would be a lot of buzz around the city, which would be really cool. That would be a good showing for us to (demonstrate) where our game is at to finish the season.”
— winger Bobby McMann on the idea of the Leafs winning the Atlantic Division
THE PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander
Scott Laughton-Max Domi-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Calle Jarnkrok
Defence
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Goal
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
The injuries
TOR: D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed).
SJ: D Vincent Desharnais (upper body), D Jan Rutta (lower body), D Henry Thrun (upper body), D Marc-Edouard Vlasic (upper body).
The prediction
The Leafs get redemption after losing to the Sharks 3 1/2 weeks ago. 5-2 the final score.
X: @koshtorontosun
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