Toronto Maple Leafs: Game Day Headlines vs Arizona

The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to get back tonight against another inferior opponent.

Prior to Friday night’s game in Florida, I noted that the Panthers were actually the precise type of team that the Leafs should otherwise dispatch with ease, regardless of whether or not they played the night before.

It really was not an unreasonable ask. Cut it whichever way you like, but at the end of the day, the Leafs are good and the Panthers, well, they’re bad.

Sitting 25th in the NHL, Dale Tallon’s squad not only bears a horrendous -22 goal differential, they seemingly cannot manage to string together any success in spite of their offensive core littered with star pieces.

Unfortunately, the night didn’t go as planned. The Leafs, as you know quite well by now, put forth possibly their worst effort of the season, played down their basement-dwelling opponent from minute one, and iced the puck what seemed like 547 different times.

It was abysmal – the kind of game that makes you question why you even watch this sport at all.

Tonight, however, is a chance to change that. The Leafs will take on the Arizona Coyotes, another bottom-feeding team who they should handle with ease. The Coyotes aren’t merely bad, they’re riddled with injuries at a rate rarely seen in modern hockey and are relying on Darcy Kuemper to hold the fort in net.

Without a doubt, this should be shooting fish in a barrel for an offensive core that features Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Mitch Marner. The key word, though, is “should”.

Gardiner is Out

Looks like the Scotiabank Arena crowd will have to find someone else to boo tonight.

Jake Gardiner is expected to sit this contest out, as he is reportedly dealing with back spasms that led to his status as a late-afternoon scratch. That’s a large blow to the Leafs’ left side, and stepping into his place is Martin Marincin, who is equally well-liked within Leafs Nation and hasn’t suited up December 22nd.

Perhaps this means Travis Dermott will get some PP time? A man can dream.

Nylander on the Fourth Line

You know what they say: nothing sparks offence quite like having Par Lindholm and Frederik Gauthier as linemates!

That’s the new reality for William Nylander, who will begin the game on the fourth line and try his darndest to squeeze any substance out of a bottomless void. It’s true, Nylander has not played at his former calibre since returning in mid-December. But if Mike Babcock’s intention is indeed to get him back on track, this isn’t the way to do it.

Thankfully, there’s a good chance he doesn’t end the game in the bottom 6. If the Leafs fall behind at any point, a Matthews-Nylander reunion is practically inevitable. Or, at least that’s the hope.

Puck drop is at 7 PM.