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Wednesday game preview: Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs
Matt Duchene has just six goals in 26 games, but four in his last five.
Wednesday game preview: Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto Star
Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson was minus-15 heading into Tuesday's games. (Derek Leung / GETTY IMAGES)
By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter
Tues., Jan. 9, 2018
AIR CANADA CENTRE
PUCK DROP: 7:30 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Duchene/Matthews
Matt Duchene has played to mixed reviews since he was acquired from Colorado in early November. He had appeared in 26 games before Tuesday, with six goals and four assists, but four of those goals had come in his last five games. Auston Matthews continues to lead the Leafs in goals (19) and could line up against Duchene, if the Senator is healthy. He was a game-time decision against the Blackhawks Tuesday night.
NEED TO KNOW
Ottawa faced Chicago on Tuesday before heading to Toronto. The Senators were 10 points out of a wild-card berth heading into the game, not expected for a team that advanced to the third round of the playoffs last spring . . . Ottawa was 24th in goals (110) heading into Tuesday. Top forwards Mike Hoffman, Derick Brassard, Bobby Ryan and Duchene have all been in slumps in the first half . . . Erik Karlsson has three goals and 27 assists in 35 games but may be still finding his comfort zone after off season surgery to repair a tendon in his foot. His minus-15 has to change for the better . . . Former Leaf Dion Phaneuf is second in scoring among Senators defencemen, with three goals and 10 assists.
UP NEXT
Tuesday, vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.
Maple Leafs prep for Senators, hope to enter break on high
Lance HornbyMore from Lance Hornby
Maple Leafs prep for Senators, hope to enter break on high
TORONTO — Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators should mean much more to the Maple Leafs than just another chapter in the Battle of Ontario.
Coming off a major 3-2 letdown against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Leafs have a record of 2-1-1 on their current home stand and need a win to reach positive points on their team-oriented five-game segment, as well as start their five-day break on the right note.
The Leafs regrouped Tuesday at their practice rink and though quite cross with his club for a series of late breakdowns that culminated in the loss, it appears coach Mike Babcock is not considering any changes beyond rotating rookie defenceman Travis Dermott out for Connor Carrick after two games. Dermott did not have a blueline partner on Tuesday while Carrick was restored with Jake Gardiner.
Dermott can be loaned back to the AHL Marlies for weekend road games in Charlotte and returned when Toronto resumes practice on Monday from its break.
Travis Dermott during Leafs practice at the Mastercard Centre in Toronto on Tuesday January 9, 2018. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun
“I haven’t thought about it, not discussed it,” Babcock said of Dermott, who was on the ice for the Jackets fortunate first goal as the Leaf collapse began. “We’ll figure out that lineup tomorrow. We just bought time here today.”
It was the third straight game Toronto went to overtime or a shootout.
“I don’t think we’ve played as good as we can in the last while, but other teams are trying, too,” Babcock said. “There is not much to pick between anybody. Our last three were overtime and it seems that way every night. It doesn’t matter if a team is on the top of the standings or the bottom, you know it will be a good game.
Patrick Marleau battles with Travis Dermott during Leafs practice at the Mastercard Centre in Toronto on Tuesday January 9, 2018. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun
“We stole a game (Saturday) from Vancouver with 10 or 11 minutes left and (Monday) night (Columbus) did the same. We owned the majority of that game, but the hockey gods have a way of getting you. When you cheat the system once, they get you back. We have one game left before our break, it’s against Ottawa, we know it’s going to be hard and we have to get prepared.”
The loss to Columbus was marked by a rare Morgan Rielly error, his pass to Patrick Marleau picked off and turned into the tying goal.
“We know the structure,” Rielly said. “We can execute, but there are little things in the course of a game we have to better at.”
With this being such a harsh winter, it’s a good bet the Leafs choose a warmer climate to spend time after Wednesday.
“First message is to make sure everyone has their trip organized today,” Babcock advised. “So when the game’s on tomorrow, you’re focused on the points. As a young coach, I would have wanted them to take their skates to the Bahamas and find some ice, but (in today’s NHL) that’s not happening.
“You pick the battles you can. We have a good sports science team that will give them info on how they can help themselves and go from there. Then we have to get back and get going (next Tuesday against St. Louis at the Air Canada Centre). Any time you take time off and have to get the motor running and skating again, it’s not as easy as you think.
“The good thing is the teams you’re playing off this break are doing the same things you have.”
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