GAMEDAY: Sheldon Keefe returns to Toronto to face struggling Maple Leafs
Article content
New Jersey Devils (26-15-5) at Toronto Maple Leafs (27-16-2)
When: Thursday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
tap here to see other videos from our team.
GAMEDAY: Sheldon Keefe returns to Toronto to face struggling Maple Leafs Back to video
TV: TSN4 Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Devils -102, Maple Leafs -122
The buzz
If the Maple Leafs are beaten by the Devils in Sheldon Keefe’s return, they’ll do something that never happened during his tenure as coach in Toronto: Lose four games in a row in regulation. It hasn’t happened since Nov. 10-19, 2019, when the Leafs lost five in a row in regulation. After the fifth loss (and the sixth in a row overall), which came in Las Vegas, Mike Babcock was fired and Keefe was hired … The Devils have sputtered since Christmas, going 3-4-2 in nine games. Each of their past three have been decided beyond regulation, as they have lost and won in overtime and lost in a shootout … There was little difference between the teams’ penalty kill before games on Wednesday. The Devils were seventh in the NHL at 82.7% and the Leafs were eighth at 82.5% … New Jersey was third in the NHL on the power play at 27.9%, but in its past nine games, has only two power-play goals on 20 opportunities … In their previous two meetings this season, the Devils outshot the Leafs by a combined total of 62-39. Toronto won both games in Newark — 4-2 on Oct. 10 and 2-1 in overtime on Dec. 10.
The news
After he departed practice on Wednesday, Leafs centre John Tavares was placed on injured reserve on Thursday with a lower-body injury. Fraser Minten was recalled from the Toronto Marlies. Minten won’t play on Thursday … Defenceman Jake McCabe looked good to return to the Leafs lineup after he missed the past four games with an upper-body injury.
The quote
We give you two quotes, and they’re both to do with the fact the Leafs were booed in the third period in home losses to Dallas and Vancouver on Tuesday and Saturday respectively:
“Just try to ignore it. We’re just trying to do our job out there and go out and put together a full 60.” — Mitch Marner
“Doesn’t really matter if they boo. We know we’re a good team.” — William Nylander
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty-Max Domi-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson
Connor Dewar-David Kampf-Steven Lorentz
Defence
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers
Oliver Ekman-Larsson—Conor Timmins
Goal
Joseph Woll
Dennis Hildeby
The injuries
TOR: G Anthony Stolarz (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), C John Tavares (lower body).
NJ: F Erik Haula (ankle), F Stefan Noesen (illness).
The prediction
Much to the dismay of Keefe, the Leafs end their losing streak with a 3-1 victory.
X: @koshtorontosun
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.