GDT: Leafs@Senators 7PM CBC

[Budsfan]

Saturday NHL game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators

Anderson vs. Andersen goalie duel to watch in nation's capital.

Saturday NHL game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators | Toronto Star

Senators goalie Craig Anderson robs Zach Hyman of the Leafs when the teams met last season. They'll renew acquaintances Saturday night in Ottawa. (Richard Lautens / Toronto Star file photo)

By Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Fri., Jan. 19, 2018

CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE
FACEOFF: 7 p.m.
TV: CBC
RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
KEY PLAYERS
Anderson/Andersen
Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson seems to play his best against the Maple Leafs. He is 15-6-3 (2.71, .921) all-time against Toronto, including a 4-3 win in regulation on Jan. 10 at the Air Canada Centre. Leafs counterpart Frederik Andersen, who has put himself on the hot seat by calling out weak performances by his teammates, is 0-1-3 in his last four starts.
NEED TO KNOW
Ottawa defenceman Erik Karlsson missed practice Friday, but should be ready to go Saturday . . . For the season, the Senators have been outscored 65-36 in the second period . . . In the second period Thursday, the Blues outscored the Senators 3-1 and held a 19-6 edge in shots . . . The Senators have rallied to win only four times after facing a deficit to start the third period . . . Winger Bobby Ryan (hand) emerged from Ottawa’s bye week with a clean bill of health. Forwards Jean-Gabriel Pageau (upper body) and F Nate Thompson (lower body) are still out.
UP NEXT
Monday vs. Colorado Avalanche, 7 p.m.

GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs at Senators
Lance HornbyMore from Lance Hornby

GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs at Senators

William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Vancouver Canucks during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on January 6, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canucks 3-2 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

MAPLE LEAFS at OTTAWA SENATORS
Saturday, 7 P.M. CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE
TV: HNIC RADIO: Sportsnet 590
THE BIG MATCH-UP
RW William Nylander vs. D Erik Karlsson
Two Swedes under lots of scrutiny. Karlsson has gone from Bytown’s hockey hero to hearing trade speculation about himself. Not a lot of points of late, but he did play close to 30 minutes on Thursday against St. Louis. Nylander went from having a huge finish against the Flyers to being one of those culpable for the overtime loss.
KEYS TO THE GAME
NO LACK OF A TENSION
Both clubs need a win in this Battle of Ontario; the Sens to get distance from the conference basement, the Leafs to show they can take and hold a lead and preferably get the job done in regulation after four straight close losses.
ANDERSEN/ANDERSON
Frederik Andersen, the NHL’s busiest goalie in minutes and shots against let his frustrations boil over Thursday in Philadelphia, now to see how those words affect the rest of the team. Craig Anderson has been very tough on the Leafs.
THIRD AND GOALS
The Leafs have been neglectful in the late stages of the game on coverage and have let special teams’ play slip. Ottawa’s troubles are rooted in the second period, out-scored a whopping 65-36 in the middle frame.
WELCOME HOME
Ottawa Thomas Chabot was told to get an apartment this week and the rookie defenceman should be even more pumped for this game.
BROWN GOES TO TOWN
Leaf winger Connor Brown, elevated off the fourth line Thursday, will be with James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak again Saturday and be looking to score in his third straight game.
SENATORS GAME DAY LINES
Ryan Dzingel Derick Brassard Mark Stone
Mike Hoffman Matt Duchene Bobby Ryan
Colin White Zack Smith Tom Pyatt
Alex Burrows Gabriel Dumont Filip Chlapik
DEFENCE PAIRS
Johnny Oduya Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf Cody Ceci
Matt Borowiecki Thomas Chabot
GOALIES
Craig Anderson
Mike Condon
SICK BAY
D Chris Wideman
F Clarke MacArthur
F Jean-Gabriel Pageau
F Nate Thompson
MAPLE LEAF GAME DAY LINES
Zach Hyman Auston Matthews William Nylander
Patrick Marleau Nazem Kadri Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk Tyler Bozak Connor Brown
Matt Martin Frederik Gauthier Mitch Marner
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Ron Hainsey Morgan Rielly
Jake Gardiner Connor Carrick/Andreas Borgman
Roman Polak Travis Dermott
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
SICK BAY
D Nikita Zaitsev
D Morgan Rielly
F Nikita Soshnikov
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Toronto 20.6 % (11th)
Ottawa 15.1% (29th)
PENALTY KILLING
Toronto 84.2% (4th)
Ottawa 75.4% (28th)

Click to read more...

 

[Budsfan]

Paul Hendrick @HennyTweets
1m
Nothing to report as of yet and Leafs expected to go with an optional skate this morning, so we’ll have to wait and hear what Coach Babcock has to say around 11 this morning. #tmltalk

Alex Locks @TiaAndAlex1
Replying to @HennyTweets
What's the word with Morgan?

 

[Mugzy97]

Cue the negativity

 

[Budsfan]

 

[Warden of the North]

Just win. Warm my heart with a solid 4-2 victory. Please team

 

[Budsfan]

 

[Budsfan]

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Holy f*** that D core is awful without Rielly and Zaitsev

 

[Budsfan]

 

[Budsfan]

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

Just win...

 

[Rare Jewel]

Cue the negativity

There's a bit of that, but people are frustrated and just want to see a team (and line combos) that don't look constipated.

 

[Daisy Jane]

let's win pls.

 

[Liminality]

Hoping to at least see some fire and hustle after the outbursts and responses.

Bring that speed back.

 

[ToneDog]

At this point compete for 60 minutes and keep the brain cramps to a minimum. If Freddy stones them we might steal one.

 

[Nineteen67]

Why do feel like this is a 4-1 loss? ......

 

[SprDaVE]

I don't know what will happen if we lose but I'm pretty sure some of these players are seeing the ugly side of the Toronto market for the first time.

They had it 'easy' until now, being praised almost at every turn. But now that expectations are there, not sure they expected this kind of push back.

Hoping for a win but considering we're something like 1-9-1 against Ottawa in recent memory, doesn't seem likely we'll be able to pull it off.

 

[Nooodles]

Easy loss.

 

[Mess]

Looks like Browie is getting rewarded for his play with a promotion and better offensive linemates and more ice time, while Marner is the one singled out by his coach for his recent play deserving a demotion to the 4th line and less TOI/g as a result.

Marner was directly responsible for both regulation goals against against Philly in the loss.

 

[Trapper]

Let's not spot the Sens a 2 goal lead and chase them all night to tie the game like we've been doing. That would be a good start.

 

[Mess]

Why do feel like this is a 4-1 loss? ......

Is the recent 2 losses to the Sens still fresh in your mind, that has you felling and little less unsure of the Leafs success in this one.

 

[Nylander88]

If Rielly can't go tonight ( dear lord i hope he can), i hope Dermott is the guy that gets to step into the spotlight.

Dermott-Hainsey
Gardiner-Carrick
Borgman-Polak

 

[AppsSyl]

They are going to come out flying tonight, and you know Freddy is going to have to be on his game after his comments.

 

[Daisy Jane]

They are going to come out flying tonight, and you know Freddy is going to have to be on his game after his comments.

that's the one i have my eye on.
I just remember when Reimer chewed out the team after a loss vs. Florida, he had two disgusting stinker games, (and basically at that point lost the job to Bernier).

then bernier chewed out the team and he basically was pathetic since during his time here.

if Andy lets in a horrid goal or something. it's gonna not be good.

 

[PromisedLand]

coaching master stroke to fuel some offense:

• Mostly status-quo
• flip Brown with Marner or Nylander

Brilliant!