GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs entertain explosive Lightning on Monday
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Tampa Bay Lightning (25-16-3) at Toronto Maple Leafs (29-16-2)
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
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GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs entertain explosive Lightning on Monday Back to video
TV: Prime Video Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Lightning +104, Maple Leafs -128
The buzz
As the Maple Leafs went about dismantling the Montreal Canadiens in the second and third periods on Saturday night in a 7-3 win, the Lightning was beating the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 at home for its third win in four games … Tampa Bay’s ability to put the puck in the net should serve as an intriguing test for the Leafs. The Lightning leads the National Hockey League with an average of 3.66 goals a game and its plus-39 goal differential is the third-best … After going pointless in consecutive games on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4, Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov is on an eight-game scoring streak with 14 points (four goals and 10 assists). Kucherov has feasted on the Leafs in his career, recording 45 points (19 goals and 26 assists) in 36 games. He has more career points against only Ottawa (50 in 36) and Detroit (49 in 37) … Leafs captain Auston Matthews has seven goals in eight games since returning from an upper-body injury, a pace that would result in 72 goals in 82 games. Matthews has 13 goals in 24 career games against the Lightning … Memo to Mitch Marner if the Lightning goes on a power play: Your speed and guile could come in handy, as Tampa has allowed an NHL-high eight shorthanded goals … The Leafs have won the two previous meetings — 5-3 in Tampa on Nov. 30 and 5-2 in Toronto on Oct. 21.
The news
Fraser Minten will draw into the Leafs lineup and will play for the NHL for the first time since Dec. 14 … Morgan Rielly will have a new partner on the blue line in Jake McCabe. Simon Benoit will dress for Toronto after he was a healthy scratch in the past two games. Philippe Myers comes out of the lineup … Max Pacioretty suffered an upper-body injury when he was hit in the face by the puck in Montreal and is day to day … Marner’s two assists against the Canadiens brought him to 495 in his National Hockey League career, moving him past Dave Keon (493) and into fourth place on the Leafs franchise list. Only Borje Salming (620), Mats Sundin (567) and Darryl Sittler (527) assisted on more Leafs goals … Matthews is two assists shy of 300 for his career … Max Domi played in his 700th NHL game against the Canadiens. He has 320 to go to catch his dad, Tie, who played in 1,020 NHL games with the Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets … Joseph Woll gets the call for the Maple Leafs. Jonas Johansson will start in goal for Tampa Bay.
The quote
“He had some crazy saves. He has been dialled in this season.”
— William Nylander on Joseph Woll’s 32-save performance in Montreal on Saturday night
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies / Auston Matthews / Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann / Pontus Holmberg / William Nylander
Max Domi / Fraser Minten /Nick Robertson
Connor Dewar / David Kampf / Steven Lorentz
Defence
Morgan Rielly / Jake McCabe
Oliver Ekman-Larsson / Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit / 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), F Max Pacioretty (upper body).
TB: D J.J. Moser (lower body), D Erik Cernak (undisclosed).
The prediction
The Leafs make it three in a row against the Lightning. 4-3 the final.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @koshtorontosun
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