A Massive Opportunity for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs play the Detroit Red Wings tonight.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been off since Saturday when they defeated Nazem Kadri’s new team, the Colorado Avalanche.

The Leafs looked great in their first game under new coach Sheldon Keefe.  Then they looked even better in their second game – for about a period.

Once the Leafs went up 4-1 they didn’t look so hot, however.  Score Effects make a big difference in hockey (meaning teams losing by multiple goals tends to dominate shot attempts) but ideally this is something a progressive team like the Leafs would look to exploit.

Still, it had been a crazy week, so if the Leafs phoned it in a bit after getting a three goal lead, who can really blame them?

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Red Wings

Tonight’s game will come after two days off, and now the Leafs have had a full week and two games to get used to their new coach.

A few days off followed by a game against a weak opponent gives the Leafs a massive opportunity to get this season back on track.  Now obviously one game isn’t going to do that, but if they come out flying and crush the Red Wings with their new game plan, it’s going to be a symbolic victory as much as a real one.

With 17 points, the Red Wings are the worst team in the NHL, and got even worse recently when Anthony Mantha was injured. They’ve lost six games in a row, the last four in regulation.

A chance to beat up on a terrible team is exactly what the Leafs need right now, but at the same time, a team that has lost six in a row can be dangerous.  Even bad teams are due for a win sometimes.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs can extend their win streak to three, they’ll be halfway out of the six game hole they dug for themselves two weeks ago.

They still aren’t doing that hot in the standings, but if they keep winning that will come with time. Currently the Leafs are tied with Tampa, but have played four more games.

The Leafs are one point behind Montreal, and three back of Florida, and have only played one more game than each.

Unfortunately they are 11 points behind Boston who has won four in a row.  Standings from sportsnet.ca.

The Leafs will be without Alex Kerfoot tonight as he is suspended.  Freddie Andersen goes in goal. Mitch Marner remains out.

Mikheyev will go with Tavares, while the Matthews line is normal.  The third line is Petan-Spezza-Kapanen, while the fourth line will see Timashov, Engvall and Gauthier.

All lines info from dailyfaceoff.com.

The fourth line I’d like to see is Bracco , Engvall and Aberg.

Tonight’s game should be fun!