GDT: Stars@Leafs 7 PM SN

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Budsfan

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Maple Leafs Recall Andreas Johnsson and Calle Rosen



Wednesday game preview: Dallas Stars at Toronto Maple Leafs

The Stars already have more points than they had all last season.

Wednesday game preview: Dallas Stars at Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto Star

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Ben Bishop has backstopped a big turnaround in Dallas, helping the Stars rise from 29th in goals allowed per game last season to fourth this year. (Ron Jenkins / The Associated Press)

By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter
Tues., March 13, 2018

AIR CANADA CENTRE
FACEOFF:
7 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Radulov/Marner
Alexander Radulov and the Stars played in Montreal Tuesday night, with Radulov facing his former team for the first time since signing with Dallas on a five-year, $31.25-million free-agent deal in the summer. Radulov has 25 goals and 35 assists in 69 games so far, and has surpassed last season’s totals in Montreal. Mitch Marner has taken over the Leafs’ scoring lead with Auston Matthews sidelined six games now with a shoulder injury. Marner has been the team’s most dangerous player of late, with 19 points in his last 13 games.
NEED TO KNOW
Dallas entered Tuesday as the first wild card in the Western Conference but four teams — Colorado, Anaheim, St. Louis and Calgary — were within four points. The Stars, with 82 points, already had more points than they had all last season, when they went 34-37-11 … Dallas was 29th in goals against last season (3.17 per game) but, after adding goalie Ben Bishop in the off-season and bringing back head coach Ken Hitchcock, the Stars are fourth this season (2.58). Bishop (26 wins, 2.49 GAA, .917 save percentage) is dealing with a knee injury but he practised in full gear Monday. Kari Lehtonen (2.23, .921) has done a solid job filling in for Bishop … Dallas is on a six-game road trip, which began with a loss in Pittsburgh Sunday in which they managed just 18 shots on goal. The Stars have scored just five goals over their last four games, none of them during 5x5 play.
UP NEXT
Thursday, at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Game Day: Stars at Maple Leafs
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan

Game Day: Stars at Maple Leafs

DALLAS STARS at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Wednesday, 7 p.m., Air Canada Centre,
TV: Sportsnet, Radio: 1050 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
John Klingberg vs. Mitch Marner

In 2010, the Stars picked defenceman Klingberg at No. 131 overall, and to say he was a steal wouldn’t be doing the pick justice. Klingberg has become a stalwart for the Stars, eating up the most minutes for Dallas this season and last. As good as Marner has been for the Maple Leafs on the power play, he has been producing at even-strength, and could find himself bumping up against Klingberg as the game progresses.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. A leg, or two, up
The Maple Leafs have been champing at the bit to get back on the ice for what will be just their second game in nine nights. There will be no reason for the Leafs to not have a quick start, as their enthusiasm should win out over the Stars’ fatigue, as Dallas arrived late after playing on Tuesday night in Montreal against the Canadiens.
2. Big D in Dallas
The Stars have had a defensive turnaround in coach Ken Hitchcock’s second tenure with the club, and were fourth in goals-against after they were 29th last season. The Leafs might not come by chances easily. “Hitch is a serial winner,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “They are playing well without the puck and they make it hard on you.”
3. Johnsson is in
Leafs fans who follow the Toronto Marlies closely have wondered when Andreas Johnsson might get his chance with the big club, and now they know. Johnsson’s tenacity and determination to go where others might not served him well in the AHL, and he should change nothing in his first NHL game. His speed has put him above others.
4. Star vs. the Stars
Nazem Kadri scored two goals for the Leafs in the clubs’ only other meeting in 2017-18, a 4-1 Toronto win on Jan. 25. Little wonder. Kadri’s best production against a Western Conference foe has been against Dallas, as he has 14 points in 10 career games. Kadri has three goals in his past three games and is four shy of 30.
5. Seguin checks in
Time was you couldn’t mention Tyler Seguin’s name without thinking of what could have been, given that the Boston Bruins chose him with the second pick in 2010 with the selection acquired from Toronto in the Phil Kessel trade. Seguin never let Leafs fans forget, scoring 10 even-strength goals against Toronto, the most he has against one NHL team.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Zach Hyman-William Nylander-Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Connor Brown
Andreas Johnsson-Tomas Plekanec-Kasperi Kapanen
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Roman Polak
Calle Rosen/Travis Dermott-Connor Carrick
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
STARS LINES
LW-C-RW
Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Alexander Radulov
Devin Shore-Jason Dickinson-Mattias Janmark
Antoine Roussel-Radek Faksa-Tyler Pitlick
Remi Elie-Jason Spezza-Brett Ritchie
Defence pairs
Esa Lindell-John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis-Greg Pateryn
Marc Methot-Stephen Johns
Goaltenders
Kari Lehtonen
Mike McKenna
INJURIES
Stars — G Ben Bishop (knee), F Martin Hanzal (back).
Maple Leafs — C Auston Matthews (shoulder), D Nikita Zaitsev (illness), D Travis Dermott (illness).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Maple Leafs: 21.8% (7th)
Stars: 19.8% (20th)
Penalty kill
Maple Leafs: 82.7% (7th)
Stars: 83.3% (4th)
 

BertCorbeau

F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
Jan 6, 2012
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What's really cool, looking at that line up, is seeing that all but 5 skaters (Marleau, JVR, Pleks, Hainsey, Polak) on the roster were either drafted by the Leafs or have spent time developing with the Marlies.

Hopefully I'll get the chance to watch it tonight. Want to see how AJ does.
 

mapleleafs34

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Apr 7, 2011
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Kadri line will be matched up with Seguin line all night. Shut em' down and our other 3 lines should feast.
 
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MarryMarner

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Mar 31, 2008
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They didn't look good in Montreal last night - hopefully we can take advantage on the back to back at home. Win tonight, lose tomorrow and win on Saturday is my guess.
 

Gary Nylund

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Oct 10, 2013
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pft. hat trick.
think big.

I was considering saying that ideally, every Maple Leaf would score at least once tonight but I decided to keep it real. A hat trick would be awesome but a win and a Johnsson goal would be sweet enough for me. I'd even settle for Johnsson playing well enough to think that he can help us win the cup this spring. Win the cup - hopefully that's thinking big enough. :)
 

Daisy Jane

everything is gonna be okay!
Jul 2, 2009
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also. the goal should be. dominate and coast to victory because we have to dummy out Buffalo tomorrow
 

Macallan18

Registered User
Aug 10, 2015
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Really excited to watch this game tonight.
I think Johnsson-Plekanec-Kappy could be a really exciting 4th line, both very dependable from a defensive perspective, but with enough speed and finesse to sting!!
Hope they get lots of ice time!!
 
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