Game Day: Flames at Maple Leafs
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Game Day: Flames at Maple Leafs
CALGARY FLAMES at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
7 p.m. ET/5 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Arena
TV: Sportsnet, Sportsnet One
Radio: Sportsnet 590 (Toronto), Sportsnet 960 (Calgary)
THE BIG MATCHUP
C John Tavares vs. LW Johnny Gaudreau
The two Johnny Hockeys hope for productive evenings; Tavares more in the spotlight with Auston Matthews sidelined at centre; while Gaudreau, Calgary’s top scorer, looks to add to two assists Saturday against Washington after a two-game dry spell. Tavares had 15 points in 12 games against the Flames as an Islander.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Miked up
Toronto head coach Mike Babcock spoke Sunday of his respect for the puck handling abilities of Calgary goaltender Mike Smith to break up Leafs cycles. Smith also has a .925 save percentage against the Leafs in 13 career games, but Frederik Andersen has owned the Flames, with a record of 7-0-0-1.
Centres of attention
Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm will test Leafs depth with Auston Matthews out. It could be Lindholm vs. Lindholm on a couple of shifts with Toronto’s Par moved back to the middle by Babcock.
Hold all calls
The Leafs have benefitted from only 28 power play opportunities so far this season, putting them in the NHL’s bottom five for calls drawn, while Calgary is going to the extra man on a regular basis, 45 advantages at last count, near the front of the pack. Unfortunately, they haven’t converted many.
Give it up
Babcock had a couple of biting comments about his team’s “silly” tendencies with the puck when on offence, particularly being too risky at home. But they and the Flames rank top five in giveaways.
It’s a hit
The Flames can steal a page from the Winnipeg Jets’ book and try to wear down the Leafs physically, especially in a road game. But scoring three on Saturday without Matthews for much of the game will give the Leafs a lift heading into this match.
LEAFS GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Zach Hyman John Tavares Kasperi Kapanen
Patrick Marleau Nazem Kadri Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson Par Lindholm Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis Frederik Gauthier Josh Leivo
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Morgan Rielly Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner Nikita Zaitsev
Igor Ozhiganov Martin Marincin
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
Sick Bay
Auston Matthews
FLAMES GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Johnny Gaudreau Sean Monahan Matthew Tkachuk
Sam Bennett Mikael Backlund Austin Czarnik
Dillon Dube Elias Lindholm James Neal
Michael Frolik Derek Ryan Garnet Hathaway
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Mark Giordano T.J. Brodie
Noah Hanifin Travis Hamonic
Juuso Valimaki Rasmus Andersson
GOALIES
Mike Smith
David Rittich
SICK BAY
None
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Toronto 32.1% (2nd)
Calgary 15.6% (21st)
PENALTY KILLING
Toronto 80.0% (13th)
Calgary 71.8% (27th)
Leafs' Auston Matthews out at least 4 weeks with shoulder injury
Star forward was hurt during Saturday's win over Jets
CBC Sports · an hour ago
Auston Matthews is tied for second in the NHL with 10 goals this season. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Auston Matthews is expected to miss at least four weeks with a shoulder injury, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced Monday.
Leafs' Auston Matthews out at least 4 weeks with shoulder injury | CBC Sports
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