Game Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs vs New York Rangers
Feb 3, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) during the first period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Toronto Maple Leafs will head into New York with the same lineup that got them the win against the Edmonton Oilers.
The Maple Leafs twitter account confirmed the speculation.
Peter Horachek confirms there won't be any lineup changes from Saturday for tonight's game. #TMLtalk
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 10, 2015
That means for the second straight game Leafs forward David Clarkson will sit as a healthy scratch – much to the delight of the majority of Leafs Nation.
It’s a lot of blaming the contract, in my opinion. I digress.
The Leafs are in for a much bigger task against the Rangers than they were against the Oilers and they will need to play a full sixty minutes of smart hockey if they want to stay in the mix throughout the game.
Rick Nash has been a on a goal scoring tear this year so the focus should be on the enigmatic sniper all game long.
James Reimer will be in the cage for the Leafs as Bernier presumably continues to nurse those stitches in his leg.
There is still no timetable for Dion Phaneuf’s return from his hand injury as well.
The #leafs have no timeline on Dion Phaneuf's return from hand injury. Peter Horachek says "I'm not sure where it is."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 9, 2015
Let’s take a look at the tale of the tape and the analytics report for the game.
Next: Tale of the Tape
Feb 7, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Rangers goalie Cam Talbot (33) reacts after allowing a goal during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Tale of the Tape
Toronto
23-27-4 50 points (12th in Eastern Conference)
PP: 18.8% (13th in NHL)
PK: 83.4% (9th in NHL)
G/GP: 2.78 (13th in NHL)
GA/GP: 3.02 (25th in NHL)
Win % When Scoring First: .739 (10th in NHL)
New York
30-16-5 65 points (7th Eastern Conference)
PP: 19.9% (10th in NHL)
PK: 82.2% (13th in NHL)
G/GP: 2.94 (7th in NHL)
GA/GP: 2.33 (4th in NHL)
Win % When Scoring First: .774 (6th in NHL)
It could be a long night for the Maple Leafs if they don’t put together a significant effort.
The Rangers score a lot of goals and allow very few. That’s a bad combination for opponents.
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The power play for both teams are near equal, as are the penalty kill percentages. Special teams will be a major factor if each team shuts down the other at 5v5.
The Leafs will have to play smart, possession conscious, hockey against a fast and talented team like the Rangers. It’s going to take a lot of shot attempts to get a win against the Rangers – even without Henrik Lundqvist.
Cam Talbot is no slouch in goal – especially in a solid system in front of him.
If the Leafs get down they can’t allow it to get beyond one or they will struggle to climb back into the game against a team like the Rangers.
Next: Analytics Report
Feb 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly (44) carries the puck against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Analytics Report
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As expected, the Rangers are ahead.
The Rangers don’t have out of this world numbers, they’re largely average, but they get the job done. They trade shot attempts back and forth at a similar rate.
The difference is their skill allows them to take over the scoresheet.
Toronto is consistently hemmed in their own zone and that will be a problem with Rick Nash and Marty St Louis floating around the ice.
The Leafs need to pull their possession up to at least 50% in this game or they will be in serious trouble all night long.
They need to allow Morgan Rielly to drive the play from the back end. Rielly has elite puck moving capabilities and should have the puck on each and every defensive zone exit.
The Leafs have been trending their shooting percentage back up after a large drought and that needs to continue tonight. The Leafs top unit of Kessel-Bozak-JVR will need to find the back of the net and lead the scoring.
The game could go either way, a tight battle – or a total blowout.