Wednesday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers
Former Leafs goaltender James Reimer has had a slow start with the Panthers this season.
Wednesday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers | Toronto Star
By
Mark ZwolinskiSports reporter
Tues., Nov. 21, 2017
BB&T CENTER
PUCK DROP: 7 pm
TV: Sportsnet
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Trocheck/Nylander
Vincent Trocheck leads the Panthers in goals with nine, and has goals in the past two games. The Leafs’
William Nylander is trying to find his scoring touch, and could use a breakout game. He has one goal — an overtime winner —in his last 14 games.
NEED TO KNOW
The Panthers are 7-11-2, and are coming off a 3-2 loss in Anaheim when they had a season=high 52 shots on goal … Trocheck,
Jonathan Huberdeau, and
Aleksander Barkov all have 21 points for the Panthers. They have combined for 170 shots, and all are over 50 per cent in the faceoff circle (Huberdeau is at 62.5 per cent) . . . The Panthers are 30th in the NHL in goals against per game (3.6) and 30th on the penalty kill … Former Leafs goaltender James Reimer, the backup to
Roberto Luongo, is off to a slow start with a 3-6 record, a 3.70 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage.
UP NEXT
Friday, at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Game Day: Maple Leafs at Panthers
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Game Day: Maple Leafs at Panthers
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (14-8-0) at FLORIDA PANTHERS (7-11-2)
7 p.m., BB&T Center
TV: Sportsnet Ontario
Radio: 1050 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
William Nylander vs. Aaron Ekblad
The Maple Leafs and Panthers’ top picks, respectively, from in the 2014 NHL draft continue to evolve and are among the top players on their clubs now. Ekblad, the first pick overall in 2014, has demonstrated leadership and growth for Florida, while the ability of Nylander, taken eighth by the Leafs, to see the game has been a boon for Toronto. Both have the capacity to influence the outcome on Wednesday.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
Bounce back
The Maple Leafs had some stuffing taken out of them when they were beaten by the Arizona Coyotes on Monday, and coach
Mike Babcock is steadfast in keeping his lines together. The trios have done well in the past, and could have success against a Florida team that allows 3.55 goals a game (second-most in the NHL).
Draw the line
The Panthers’ line of
Jonathan Huberdeau,
Aleksander Barkov and
Evgeny Dadonov has been sharp, recording 59 of the Panthers’ 167 points (35%). Coach
Bob Boughner will have last change, but Babcock likely won’t have trouble putting the
AustonMatthews line or
Nazem Kadri’s group out as a match.
Take possession
Neither team is the best at keeping the puck when it has it, as the Leafs were third in the NHL with 286 giveaways and the Panthers fifth with 255. The Leafs are a shade over 50% in possession at 5-on-5 play, while the Panthers come in just under 50%. The team willing to grab that extra inch should be rewarded.
Luongo loves the Leafs
Roberto Luongo is slated to start in the Panthers net over ex-Leaf
James Reimer, and will be looking to build on a fine career record against Toronto. Luongo is 20-9-3 with a .926 save percentage and a 2.25 goals-against average in 34 games. He has more career wins against only Colorado, Edmonton and Calgary.
Hey, remember when?
The Leafs owned the Panthers last season, winning four of the five meetings including one in Sunrise.
Connor Brown had six points against the Panthers, while
Leo Komarov recorded five. Rookies at the time, Matthews,
Mitch Marner, and
William Nylander combined for 10 points.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Zach Hyman-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Mitch Marner
Matt Martin-Dominic Moore-Connor Brown
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
Andreas Borgman-Connor Carrick
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
PANTHERS LINES
LW-C-RW
Jonathan Huberdeau-Aleksander Barkov-Evgeny Dadonov
Connor Brickley-Vincent Trocheck-Nick Bjugstad
Jamie McGinn-Jared McCann-Colton Sceviour
Micheal Haley-Chase Balisy-Dryden Hunt
Defence pairs
Keith Yandle-Aaron Ekblad
Michael Matheson-Mark Pysyk
Ian McCoshen-MacKenzie Weegar
Goaltenders
Roberto Luongo
James Reimer
INJURIES
Panthers —F Derek MacKenzie (lower body), F Radim Vrbata (face).
Maple Leafs — None.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Panthers: 16.7% (22nd)
Maple Leafs: 22.9% (5th)
Penalty kill
Panthers: 72% (30th)
Maple Leafs: 80% (17th)
GO
