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Gameday: Rangers at Leafs
Lance HornbyMore from Lance Hornby
Gameday: Rangers at Leafs
7 P.M. Scotiabank Arena
TV: Sportsnet/HNIC RADIO: TSN 1050
THE BIG MATCH-UP
G Henrik Lundqvist v G Frederik Andersen
In Hank’s last start, a shootout loss to the Goldeb Knights, he was giving a lively pep talk to his bench during a sloppy stretch, a necessity in this challenging year for the Blueshirts. While many don’t think the roster as a whole has what it takes to make the playoffs, they continue hanging around in the first half and that’s often down to the play of Lundqvist. Andersen, meanwhile, is having a little holiday, two straight games with less than 30 shots, searching for his 20th win and likely to get one game off this weekend.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. HO-HO-HOLD THE LEAFS
Since the 1990s, these teams have loved getting into scorefests. The past 10 years have seen them average six combined goals a game and the Leafs are definitely one of the clubs Lundqvist has had issues with. Toronto has scored 13 in its past two games this week against playoff-challenged opponents.
2. ROAD KILL?
New York brings just four away victories into town, one of the worst marks in the league. But the Leafs should keep avoiding the chance of a shootouts as the Rangers are a league-best 5-1 and have won all four road games via the tiebreaker.
3. BIG APPLE PEELER
New Leaf John Tavares will no doubt be fired up for this one, having had a decade on the Island to get into the rivalry with Broadway. In his 43 games against the Rangers, he collected 38 points, the most against any NHL opponent coming into this season. That includes 42 penalty minutes, also a high.
4. ZACH IN THE BOX
Mike Babcock pushed the right buttons Thursday after Zach Hyman’s three-week absence with an ankle injury became known. Andreas Johnsson didn’t get a point on Auston Matthews’ left side versus Florida, but drew the penalty that finally sparked Toronto’s dormant power play. Also shut out on the left side against the Cats was the re-assigned Patrick Marleau.
5. WILL HE SCORE?
William Nylander’s ongoing attempts to restore his game to mid-season confidence have been pushed to the back burner a bit as the team starts filling the net from other sources, but he’d like to net at least one before Christmas. He’s at two assists through seven games.
LEAF GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Andreas Johnsson John Tavares Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau Auston Matthews Kasperi Kapanen
Connor Brown Nazem Kadri William Nylander
Par Lindholm Frederick Gauthier Tyler Ennis
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Morgan Rielly Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott I. Ozhiganov/M. Marincin
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
SICK BAY
LW Zach Hyman (ankle)
RANGERS GAME DAY LINES
LWCRW
Filip Chytil Mika Zibanejad Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider Kevin Hayes Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey Brett Howden Vladislav Namestnikov
Boo Nieves Lias Andersson Ryan Strome
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Marc Staal Neal Pionk
Brendan Smith Anthony DeAngelo
Brady Skjei Adam McQuaid
GOALIES
Henrik Lundqvist
Alexandar Georgiev
SICK BAY
D Kevin Shattenkirk (shoulder)
LW Cody McLeod (hand)
RW Jesper Fast (upper body)
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Toronto 24.7% (7th)
NY Rangers 19.8% (16th)
PENALTY KILLING
Toronto 78.5 (20th)
NY Rangers 76.8 (25th)
