GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs seek to extend solid run in Calgary
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (31-19-2) at CALGARY FLAMES (26-19-7)
When: Tuesday, 9 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome
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GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs seek to extend solid run in Calgary Back to video
TV: TSN Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Maple Leafs -128, Flames +104
The buzz
The Flames are in it to win it — or, in their case, to continue to make a strong run to a playoff spot. General manager Craig Conroy figured he gave the team a better chance last week when he acquired forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee from the Philadelphia Flyers, and don’t expect Conroy to trade forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri and defenceman MacKenzie Weegar before the March 7 National Hockey League trade deadline … The Flames have managed to stay in the race in the Western Conference despite a subpar offence. With an average of 2.65 goals a game, Calgary was in the bottom five in the NHL in goals scored … Sitting in eighth in their conference, the Flames are in a position that no one predicted they would be in during the first week of February. One reason: They’ve allowed just 83 goals at five-on-five, more than only Los Angeles, Winnipeg and Washington. Next after the Flames are the Leafs, who have allowed 88 goals at five-on-five … Through games on Sunday, the Leafs were 13th on the power play (22.5%) and 13th on the penalty kill (80.3%). Getting those numbers into the top 10 heading into the post-season should be a goal … Kadri has just two points in his past four games, but has done well against the Leafs. In eight career games versus Toronto, Kadri has nine points (four goals and five assists) … The Flames are 7-for-19 in their past seven games on the power play … In their past 10 visits to Calgary, the Leafs are 8-2-0.
The news
Following the Leafs’ morning skate, coach Craig Berube said whether winger Mitch Marner or defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson plays will be a game-time decision. Both missed practice on Monday for maintenance reasons. Ekman-Larsson, who departed the game in Edmonton on Saturday with a lower-body injury, took part in the skate on Tuesday, but Marner did not. With Marner absent, defenceman Morgan Rielly was moved to the No. 1 power-play unit … Joseph Woll will start in goal for the Leafs. He has won both of his career starts against the Flames. Anthony Stolarz could be in line to start in Seattle on Thursday … Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf, who has put himself thick in the running for the Calder Trophy, will make his first career start against the Leafs … Leafs captain Auston Matthews will play in his 600th NHL game. With 388 career goals, he needs one goal to tie Darryl Sittler for second in team history. Sittler played in 844 games for Toronto … The lines below are what Berube employed at practice on Monday. If Marner plays, it’s safe to assume he’ll be back on the right side on the No. 1 line and Max Domi, presumably, would centre the third line. In turn, Berube would go with Pontus Holmberg or Ryan Reaves on the fourth line … The Flames are coming off a 3-2 win in Seattle against the Kraken on Sunday. Calgary scored all three of its goals in the first period, marking just the second time this season it has scored three times in the opening 20 minutes.
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The quote
“I enjoyed my time a lot. It was a great part of my life and my son was born here, met a tremendous amount of people and built a ton of relationships here that I will have forever. It was a great place to play and my family and I really enjoyed it.”
— Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev, who will play in Calgary for the first time since the Flames traded him to Dallas last February. Tanev played in 259 games in four seasons with the Flames
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi
Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves
Defence
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins
Goalies
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
The injuries
TOR: D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (lower body), G Anthony Stolarz (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Connor Dewar (upper body).
CGY: D Kevin Bahl (upper body), F Anthony Mantha (knee), F Connor Zary (lower body), F Justin Kirkland (knee).
The prediction
The Leafs continue their good run in Calgary. 4-2 Toronto final.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @koshtorontosun
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