Big time back-to-back: Lightning at Maple Leafs Preview

Game Twenty Nine: Tampa Bay Lightning (16-10-2) at Toronto Maple Leafs (13-11-4)

Time: 7:30 PM EST

Location: Scotiabank Arena, The Big Smoke

TV/Stream/Radio: Scripps, NHL Network, Amazone Prime (in Canada), TVAS, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -120

Know the Opponents: Pension Plan Puppets

When the schedule wizards threw together their matrix, they probably thought that this would make for a pretty nice match-up. Little did they know that it would be a battle in net between Jonas Johansson and Dennis Hildeby. Such is life in the NHL.

As the Lightning make their first stop of the year in Toronto, they do so with a wildly overhauled line-up as injuries have taken a toll on all aspects of the line-up. Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak, and Andrei Vasilevskiy are definitely out. Brayden Point is probably out. Nikita Kucherov, Dominic James, and Curtis Douglas…well, that will probably have to wait until game time to be decided. [Update – per reports, Point and Kucherov were taking regular turns at the morning skate.]

Meanwhile the Maple Leafs aren’t sending any condolences or roses over to the Lightning locker room as they are dealing with life without Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll, Chris Tanev, Brandon Carlo, and maybe Jake McCabe. Losing both starting goaltenders is a big pill to swallow and it’s help lead Toronto into a big pile of mediocrity so far this season.

So it comes to the players that are healthy enough to take to the ice to pull out a win in a quietly important game. The Lightning’s current “played well but still lost” streak has reached three games and, as a result, their lead atop the division has all but dissipated into the ether. They remain on top due to having fewer games played than Boston, but are tied in points with the Bruins. Montreal and Detroit are a point behind while Florida and Toronto are only three points behind.

It’s not quite a must win, but more of a it-would-be-a-really-good-idea-to-win win. Especially considering that they have Montreal on tap for tomorrow. If the Bolts can somehow sweep this back-to-back, things will be a lot more comfortable moving forward.

In order to do so, they’ll have to keep getting production from the top line and hope the other three lines can at least draw even when they’re on the ice. Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, and Jake Guentzel have to keep doing what they’ve been doing over the last month.

Johansson has played well in his last two starts and it can be assumed he’ll get the nod tonight. Vasilevskiy was placed on IR (presumably to free up a roster spot) but would be eligible to return to action against Montreal on Tuesday if he’s ready to go. If not, good luck Brandon Halverson. For JoJo to pick up the win, the skaters in front of him have to do what they did against the Islanders and play solid defense in front of him.

There was a real determination to backchecking and defending the weak side in the 2-0 loss to New York. That’s the type of effort that will help slow the Leafs down. Even if their Core Four was ruptured with the loss of Mitch Marner in free agency, they can still give the Lightning plenty of issues. Mark our words, William Nylander will be a menace, so the whichever combination of players Coach Jon Cooper throws out there has to stay focused on keeping the puck out of the net.

It should be an interesting match-up tonight and we will update the line-ups as best we can if we hear of any changes.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Toronto Maple Leafs

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