GAMEDAY: Kings' play at home a stiff test for Maple Leafs
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (43-25-4) at LOS ANGELES KINGS (40-22-9)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m., Crypto.com Arena
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GAMEDAY: Kings' play at home a stiff test for Maple Leafs Back to video
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TV: CBC, Sportsnet Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Maple Leafs +102, Kings -127
The buzz
Each team is coming off a disappointing loss. As the Leafs were getting beaten 6-5 in a shootout in San Jose on Thursday, the Kings were in Colorado, getting shut out 4-0 by the Avalanche. It was the fifth time this season the Kings were held off the scoreboard … The Kings’ home record is something to behold. They’re 26-3-4 on home ice, and of the three regulation losses, there has been just one since Nov. 20. It came on Jan. 20 in a 5-1 final against Pittsburgh … While the Leafs have been engaged in a divisional battle for placing in the Atlantic Division with Florida and Tampa Bay, the Kings have their own thing going with the Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division. Barring a collapse by first-place Vegas, the Kings and Oilers will meet in the first round. It would be the fourth year in a row that the teams met in the playoffs, and the Oilers have won the previous three rounds. In short, neither the Leafs nor the Kings have any reason to mail it in on Saturday … Before losing to Colorado, the Kings won nine of 10 … The Leafs are 4-4-2 in their past 10 games in Los Angeles, though two of those wins, including a 3-0 victory last season, have come in their past three visits.
The news
Anthony Stolarz will start, Leafs coach Craig Berube confirmed to media in Los Angeles a few hours before the opening faceoff … Pontus Holmberg will draw back into the lineup after sitting the past two games. Nick Robertson will be scratched … Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner took the option of not practising on Friday … Matthews goes into the weekend four goals shy of 400 in his NHL career. He has five goals in 14 career games against the Kings and 10 goals in 14 career games against the Anaheim Ducks, who play host to the Leafs on Sunday … Against the Avs, the Kings’ Drew Doughty became the first defenceman in franchise history to play in 1,200 NHL games. In 22 career games against the Leafs, Doughty, a native of London, Ont., has two goals and eight assists … Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper, in his past 15 home games, is 14-0-1.
The quote
“It has been great. As a goalie, it’s what you want. You want to get in games and for me to able to play as many games as I have, play as well as I have, I think that’s success in itself. But the job is not done. I’m looking forward to the stretch run.”
— Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz on his increased workload this season
The poll
With 89 points, Mitch Marner needs 11 in the Maple Leafs’ final 10 games to reach 100 for the first time in his career. How many points will Marner finish with?
- 94-97
- 97-100
- 94 or less
- 100 or more
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander
Scott Laughton-Max Domi-Calle Jarnkrok
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Pontus Holmberg
Defence
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Goal
Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll
The injuries
TOR: D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed).
LA: F Tanner Jeannot (undisclosed), F Alex Turcotte (upper body).
The prediction
The Kings win another one at home by a score of 4-2.
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