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Tuesday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov is the favourite for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.
Tuesday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning | Toronto Star
Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. (Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Mon., March 19, 2018
AMALIE ARENA
FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.
TV: TSN
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Kucherov/Andersen
This matchup pits Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, the leading Hart Trophy candidate, against Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has been in the Hart and Vezina conversations. Kucherov scored two goals in the Lightning’s 3-1 win over Edmonton on Sunday and now has a league-leading 93 points, four more than Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin, Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and the Oilers’ Connor McDavid. Andersen is expected to return to the Leafs net Tuesday after missing the past two games with an upper-body injury.
NEED TO KNOW
Tampa Bay punched its playoff ticket with Sunday’s win, and has earned a playoff berth in four of the past five seasons, reaching the East final two years ago and the Stanley Cup final in 2015 ... When the Lightning were blanked by Boston last week, it was just the second time they had been shut out this season ... Tampa Bay has gone 5-2 on an eight-game homestand that wraps up Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Thursday, at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Game Day: Maple Leafs at Lightning
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Game Day: Maple Leafs at Lightning
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Amalie Arena,
TV: TSN4, Radio: 1050 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
Andreas Johnsson vs. Anthony Cirelli
While players such as Nazem Kadri and Mitch Marner and Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov have been excellent, count on a couple of rookies — Toronto’s Johnsson and Tampa Bay’s Cirelli — making an impact in the divisional rivalry for years. Neither was a high pick (Johnsson 202nd in 2013 and Cirelli 72nd in 2015) but both have shown in their initial NHL days that they have plenty of potential.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Freddy vs. Curtis
We should have a clearer idea after the morning skate whether it’s Frederik Andersen or Curtis McElhinney in the Leafs net, but it might not matter. Andersen has been the Leafs’ top performer this season, while McElhinney has been terrific as the backup, posting a .935 save percentage. Either way, the Leafs should be in good hands.
2. A powerful run
The Leafs have been lights out on the power play, going 8-for-12 in their past five games. Mitch Marner has been the catalyst, figuring on six of the goals (two plus four assists), while Morgan Rielly has five assists. Tampa Bay is not great on the penalty kill, sitting 28th overall in the NHL at home (76.1%). This could tip the scales on Tuesday night.
3. Not like last time
The Leafs lost in a shootout in Tampa just 22 days ago, going down 4-3 on Feb. 26. Afterward, Mike Babcock said “This wasn’t one of our better games by any means,” and the Leafs coach was right. Tampa Bay was 62% in possession and the Leafs were inconsistent throughout. We’ll be curious to see what Toronto has learned in going 4-2-1 since.
4. Miller fits in
Though Tomas Plekanec made his Leafs debut when the teams last met, the Leafs did not see Tampa Bay’s J.T. Miller and Ryan McDonagh, acquired from the Rangers. Miller could be a problem, as he has 10 points in nine games since the trade. Miller has six career goals against the Leafs — tied for the most he has versus any NHL club.
5. Road Woe-riors
As much as the Leafs are unbeatable at home, riding a 2017-18 NHL-best 12-game winning streak, they have had trouble recently in unfamiliar buildings, going 2-4-2 in their past eight road games, beating only lowly Detroit and Buffalo. A simple approach against a Tampa Bay team that has clinched a playoff spot should be at the top of the list.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson-William Nylander-Zach Hyman
James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Connor Brown
Josh Leivo-Tomas Plekanec-Kasperi Kapanen
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Roman Polak
Travis Dermott-Connor Carrick
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
LIGHTNING LINES
LW-C-RW
J.T. Miller-Steven Stamkos-Nikita Kucherov
Yanni Gourde-Brayden Point-Tyler Johnson
Alex Killorn-Anthony Cirelli-Adam Erne
Chris Kunitz-Cedric Paquette-Ryan Callahan
Defence pairs
Victor Hedman-Jake Dotchin
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Mikhail Sergachev-Anton Stralman
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Peter Budaj
INJURIES
Lightning — F Ondrej Palat (lower body).
Maple Leafs — C Auston Matthews (shoulder), F Leo Komarov (leg), D Nikita Zaitsev (illness).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Lightning: 24.0% (2nd)
Maple Leafs: 23.0% (4th)
Penalty kill
Lightning: 76.8% (26th)
Maple Leafs: 82.3% (9th)
