Hitting the ground running: Maple Leafs at Lightning Preview

Game Fifty-Six: Toronto Maple Leafs (27-21-9) at Tampa Bay Lightning (37-14-4)

Time: 7:30 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena, Home of Gold Medalist Jake Guentzel

TV/Stream/Radio: TNT/ HBO Max/ Tru TV, 102.5 FM, Lightning App (audio)

Odds: Lightning -230

Know the Opponents: Pension Plan Puppets

Twenty-seven games in the next fifty days. Buckle up Bolts’ fans, there is about to be a lot, and we mean, a lot of hockey. Fresh off of the Olympic break, the Tampa Bay Lightning roll into a back-to-back to start things up with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes on tap. To make things even more fun, the Carolina game will be on the road.

As of right now (early Wednesday morning) we are guessing at what the lines for the Tampa Bay Lightning might look like for the game. It appears that Victor Hedman is all set after practicing on Tuesday. Brayden Point is questionable while it seems that Emil Lilleberg and Charle-Edouard D’Astous are ready to go. The status of Anthony Cirelli is still in question as well as he had a non-contact sweater during practice. The three medal round participants (Jake Guentzel, Brandon Hagel, and Erik Cernak) weren’t at practice, but will likely be in the game.

If everything holds true, there is a good chance that Coach Jon Cooper rolls 11/7 against the Maple Leafs. He hasn’t leaned on that set-up as much this season as he has in the past, but he does have to play the cards he is dealt.

[Update: Coach Jon Cooper will not be behind the bench for the next two games due to the passing of his father.]

For the most part, they did what they had to do prior to the break as they reeled off 19 wins in their last 21 games (and one of those losses was in a shootout), so it’s going to be interesting to see if they can pick right up where they left off prior to the Olympics. There is room for a stumble out of the gates, but with the top of the standings still a bit clumped up, the Bolts don’t want to get into too long of a slump.

On the other bench, the Toronto Maple Leafs really have no room to dawdle post-Olympics. Three straight wins have rekindled a passing interest in the possibility of making the playoffs, but they are still six points behind the Boston Bruins for that last Wild Card spot. Like Guentzel, Cernak, and Hagel, Auston Matthews, who captained the United States to the gold medal, is questionable for the game following a long day of travel back from Italy. Chances are he plays, but is he at 100% after a long night of celebrating turned into a long travel day.

John Tavares is also dealing with an illness, so things down the middle could be a little weak for the Maple Leafs. Still, they have William Nylander, who has 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 33 career games against the Bolts. While his goal scoring is down a little this season (18 goals in 40 games) he’s bumped up his assists with 34 helpers, just five off of his total from last season, as he leads the team in scoring.

Goaltending is always a question mark for the Leafs and it looks like Joseph Woll will probably get the start. He’s won his last two outings, stopping 58 of the 60 shots he faced over those two games.

The Leafs took the first game in the season series as they were shut out by Dennis Hildeby back in early December when Andrei Vasilevskiy was working through an injury. The Bolts played well in the game, but couldn’t find the back of the net. With some of their regulars back in the line-up, hopefully that isn’t an issue.

Reminder – it’s a national game tonight as it’s on TNT. No local TV broadcast.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Toronto Maple Leafs

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