Pre-Game Talk: Leafs @ Predators | TOMORROW | The Final Road Trip

[Cor]

Expected Leafs Starter? Frederik Andersen.

Andersen said today he feels really good and is ready to go for tomorrow. However he also added "we'll see on the plane"


The Leafs could opt to start McBackup another game, and have Andersen back him up

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[ktownhockey]

I will be at this game bachelor party with 10 guys. The boys in blue better get us a win.

 

[PuckMagi]

Hopefully the Predators are tired. They played Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday.

So this is their 3rd game in 4 nights.

 

[MR4]

I'd give Andersen 1 more night off to reward McBackup and to give a bit more healing time.

Thursday(NSH)-McBackup
Saturday(DET)-Andy
Monday(BUF)-McBackup
Tuesday(WSH)-Andy

 

[inthe6ix]

I'd give Andersen 1 more night off to reward McBackup and to give a bit more healing time.

Thursday(NSH)-McBackup
Saturday(DET)-Andy
Monday(BUF)-McBackup
Tuesday(WSH)-Andy

WSH will be a difficult game on the back half of a b2b.

If he is ready and healthy, Freddy needs to play NSH, DET and BUF.

We need as many points as possible from those games.

 

[TLeafsFan]

It looks like the Western Conference 8 teams are already basically a lock.

But the Blues are breathing right down Nashville's neck for a top 3 spot in the division vs. probably having to play Chicago.

Definitely expect Thursday's game in Nashville to have that playoff feel, as a couple playoff teams jockey for position in their respective Conferences.

 

[Torontonian]

If i'm Babcock, the only game Mcbackup sees is the Tuesday game against the Capitals. Sure its nice that he played well last night against the Panthers but theres no time to give out reward starts if Freddy is good to go.

 

[CelticDruid]

First game back Andersen is always off. Might as well get it over with.Although i would start Mcbackup in Nashville.

 

[TLeafsFan]

If Freddie is ready, you go with Freddie. Simple.

 

[ACC1224]

I will be at this game bachelor party with 10 guys. The boys in blue better get us a win.

Nice one, enjoy.

 

[Space Coyote]

Give Andy another game off unless he's 100%.

 

[TLeafsFan]

Give Andy another game off unless he's 100%.

Hence the term ready to go. Sparks wouldn't have been sent back down if Freddie was still a question mark.

 

[FlareKnight]

If Andersen is good to go, then go with him. If not then Sparks should be with the team. McElhinney did a great job with Florida. But, Andersen is the starter. If he feels ready then he has to be in the net. If the games suddenly don't matter down the stretch then give him a few nights off.

If he's healthy I think he plays the next 3 with McElhinney getting Washington as per the pattern of goalie usage this season.

Whoever is in net the Leafs have to play a great game. Every point matters right now and squeezing out a win against Nashville would be huge.

 

[TMLife*]

Such great news! Lets go boys, wrap this season up nicely!

 

[Bedards Dad]

I'd give Andersen 1 more night off to reward McBackup and to give a bit more healing time.

Thursday(NSH)-McBackup
Saturday(DET)-Andy
Monday(BUF)-McBackup
Tuesday(WSH)-Andy

I'd go:

Thursday(NSH)-Andy
Saturday(DET)-Andy
Monday(BUF)-Andy
Tuesday(WSH)-McBackup

More likely to get 6 out of 8 points that way.

 

[Mats13]

I'd give Andersen 1 more night off to reward McBackup and to give a bit more healing time.

Thursday(NSH)-McBackup
Saturday(DET)-Andy
Monday(BUF)-McBackup
Tuesday(WSH)-Andy

There's 7 games left. This is no time to be rewarding a backup with starts.

NSH - Andy
DET - Andy
BUF - Andy
WSH - McBackup

Hopefully we can get all 6 points from the first 3 games so the WSH one isn't as important.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

I'd give Andersen 1 more night off to reward McBackup and to give a bit more healing time.

Thursday(NSH)-McBackup
Saturday(DET)-Andy
Monday(BUF)-McBackup
Tuesday(WSH)-Andy

Too little left in the season and too much left on the line not to be playing our starter. Schedule should be

@Nashville-Andersen
@Detroit-Andersen
@Buffalo-Andersen
Washington-McBackup
Tampa Bay-Andersen
Pittsburgh-Andersen
Columbus-McBackup (unless we haven't clinched yet obviously)

 

[Suntouchable13]

I'd go:

Thursday(NSH)-Andy
Saturday(DET)-Andy
Monday(BUF)-Andy
Tuesday(WSH)-McBackup

More likely to get 6 out of 8 points that way.

You go with what the situation dictates. If the game on Tuesday is important, you have to go with your #1.

 

[Daisy Jane]

There's 7 games left. This is no time to be rewarding a backup with starts.

NSH - Andy
DET - Andy
BUF - Andy
WSH - McBackup

Hopefully we can get all 6 points from the first 3 games so the WSH one isn't as important.

actually i'd reverse Buffalo and WSH.
we very rarely win in Buffalo, and we hold our own vs. WSH. i'd give McBackup the Buffalo start, and give Andy WSH.

 

[Black hat blue eyes]

Andy gets the nod. And mcbackup the pine.

 

[al secord]

I think I'm gonna throw up.

 

[Liferleafer]

 

[FlareKnight]

actually i'd reverse Buffalo and WSH.
we very rarely win in Buffalo, and we hold our own vs. WSH. i'd give McBackup the Buffalo start, and give Andy WSH.

That might make sense, but Babcock. The pattern has been well established to this point in the year. Use Andersen and try to win that first game and trust the backup to battle. Try to get a point in the second game.

They can't afford to squander points against Buffalo regardless of who is in net. A historical record means nothing when most of the team is new. Just like the random stats we saw through the season ("this team has a great record against the Leafs in the past 10 years"). I mean yeah that's factual, but meaningless.

I'd be surprised if they don't run with Andersen until the Washington game.

 

[senor martinez]

The Mac was just so real for us yesterday. Man I'm glad.

Has Babcock stepped off the plane already and said the words: Andersen?

When is that happening, next 3 hourhs from now? Or is it 100 already.

We gon smoke these fools again!!!

 

[HellasLEAF]

@ Nashville? Tough to predict we play them so rarely.