GDT: Leafs@Panthers 7PM SNO

[Budsfan]

GAMEDAY: Leafs at Panthers
Lance HornbyMore from Lance Hornby
GAMEDAY: Leafs at Panthers

7 P.M. BB & T Center
TV: Sportsnet RADIO: TSN 1050
THE BIG MATCH-UP
C Aleksandr Barkov vs. D Morgan Rielly
Barkov went from a hat trick in an overtime win against the Leafs down here in December to joining a meek team effort in a 6-1 Toronto win a week later. Someone has to step up for the Cats, who are riding a seven-game losing streak heading into this game. They will have the advantage of rest on a Leaf team with Rielly and its defence taxed from a Thursday match in Tampa Bay.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. BEWARE CORNERED CATS
Despite its struggles, Florida is getting lots of shots and scoring opportunities, 53 shots in the last game in Montreal, so the Leafs will have to respect the process on their side of centre.
“We’re playing a hell of game right now,” said Barkov. “We just need to keep doing that and believe, because we’ll get our bounces and if we play that way, we’ll get our chances.”
2. SPARKS SHOW
Garret Sparks is due back in the Leaf net for the first time in a couple of weeks after a concussion. Only one of his three losses to date have been on the road.
3. GET STINGY
In three of the past four losses, Florida managed to keep opponents to six or fewer shots in the first period and kept scores tight. Mike Hoffman, with his 22nd goal, gave his team the lead in Montreal before the Habs pumped in five.
4. TRO NOT YET A GO
It would certainly help coach Bob Boughner and the Panthers to have forward Vincent Trochek back in their lineup, but his ankle issue will keep him sidelined until after the all-star break.
5. THIRD AND LONG
Florida has produced just 39 third-period goals this year, in the bottom five of the league. Get there with a lead and a Snowbird crowd would set the Leafs up nicely to finish.
MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Andreas Johnsson John Tavares Mitch Marner
Zach Hyman Auston Matthews William Nylander
Patrick Marleau Nazem Kadri Kasperi Kapanen
Par Lindholm Frederick Gauthier Connor Brown
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Morgan Rielly Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott Igor Ozhiganov
GOALIES
Garret Sparks
Frederik Andersen
Sick Bay
RW Tyler Ennis (ankle)
PANTHERS GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Frank Vatrano Aleksander Barkov Evgenii Dadonov
Jonathan Huberdeau Henrik Borgstrom Nick Bjugstad
Mike Hoffman Jared McCann Denis Malgin
Jayce Hawryluk Juho Lammikko Colton Sceviour
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Keith Yandle Aaron Ekblad
Michael Matheson Mark Pysyk
Ian McCoshen MacKenzie Weegar
GOALIES
Roberto Luongo
James Reimer
INJURIES
LW Jamie McGinn (back)
C Derek MacKenzie (upper body)
C Vincent Trocheck (ankle)
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Toronto 22.2% (8th)
Florida 25.9% (4th)
PENALTY KILLING
Toronto 80.9% (13th)
Florida 79.5% (16th)

In Case You Missed It

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[Warden of the North]

Trap game. Need to start on time, and Sparks needs to be sharp.

Im interested in seeing how the new lines do against a weaker opponent. They should rip the Panthers to shreds (which we know how that usually goes with this team )

 

[MSZ]

6-15 in their last 21 visits @ FLA. They better show up on time tonight.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Please don't suck Sparks, for once do not suck

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Trap game. Need to start on time, and Sparks needs to be sharp.

Im interested in seeing how the new lines do against a weaker opponent. They should rip the Panthers to shreds (which we know how that usually goes with this team )

It's not a trap game, it's a Sparks game

 

[ULF_55]

Let's see if Kapanen can carry that line again tonight.
He was a beast, and his mates were pulled along in his draft to pot a couple.

Matthews and Nylander have to start moving the puck and quit trying to do it all themselves.

Overlooked by the announcers last night, the play by Johnsson on Marner's goal. They were too busy trying to blame the keeper, when it was a great stick lift and then backhand pass by Johnsson to Tavares. That shows how smart Johnsson is on the attack. Take a look:

Another equal effort tonight might not be enough with Sparks in goal. Have to shutdown the Panthers, not let them put up 38 shots.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[Budsfan]

 

[GlitchMarner]

Panthers suck. Beat these scrubs please!

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

The Leafs should be professionals and handle this game as they are capable. Nothing about Sparks should affect the outcome. Let's go

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Lose tonight and it virtually negates any positives from last night. That means the third line sucked again, Nylander/ Matthews still in the doldrums, Gardiner/Zaitsev are a tire fire again. If Sparks is terrible again, it may be time to risk losing him and use Hutch as the backup permanently. We should not lose to the Panthers.

 

[1specter]

6-15 in their last 21 visits @ FLA. They better show up on time tonight.

Yikes, didn't realize it was so bad. I miss the days where Florida on the schedule was a guaranteed W.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Sparkie will be fine and we will win tonight. Too many people making a big deal about Sparkie. The guy knows how to win and that's all i care about. In the NHL it is all about winning games.

 

[KingJoffrey]

Sparky Sparks is so nervous in the fact of Mick The Hut will steal his job soon enough that he actually probly plays well tonight. Just to revert himself to back as a slob what he's in his next game.

And this D-core can't hide a bad goalie. Enroth was a prime example.

 

[AllDay28]

If leafs don't win tonight, they gotta look into trading Matthews.

 

[ACC1224]

Will Reimer be swimming down at the other end as well?

They could bill this as "The Battle of the Backstroke".

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Sparky Sparks is so nervous in the fact of Mick The Hut will steal his job soon enough that he actually probly plays well tonight. Just to revert himself to back as a slob what he's in his next game.

And this D-core can't hide a bad goalie. Enroth was a prime example.

Enroth was far worse, and so was the defense.

Sparks does a more than fine job regardless.

 

[1specter]

Sucks too that Sparks is coming off a concussion but he will probably get roasted like a seasoned chicken if he doesn't get a shutout

 

[BM14]

Please don't suck Sparks, for once do not suck

That's like asking water not to be wet, unfortunately.

 

[KingJoffrey]

Enroth was far worse, and so was the defense.

Sparks does a more than fine job regardless.

Is that you Mirtle? If so say hi to Kyle!

 

[shaner8989]

WOuldnt mind seeing a high scoring game. 6-4 leafs

 

[ACC1224]

WOuldnt mind seeing a high scoring game. 6-4 leafs

3 or 4 is likely to happen.
Hopefully the Leafs can put up the 6.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Lose tonight and it virtually negates any positives from last night. That means the third line sucked again, Nylander/ Matthews still in the doldrums, Gardiner/Zaitsev are a tire fire again. If Sparks is terrible again, it may be time to risk losing him and use Hutch as the backup permanently. We should not lose to the Panthers.

Agree with the bolded. Very important to win this one and build on the excellent game we played last night. The rest of the post is seems like melodrama but whatever, GLG!

 

[BAM]

They better win this game, Babcock can f*** off with his stupid line-matching and start earning his contract. There's no excuse to lose to this team 3 times in a row.

 

[ACC1224]

Agree with the bolded. Very important to win this one and build on the excellent game we played last night. The rest of the post is seems like melodrama but whatever, GLG!

Yep and the dummy the Coyotes on Sunday. Be nice to face the Caps winning 3 in a row.