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Toronto Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner Returns , Nick Shore Claimed, Petan, Marincin Sent Down

By Eric Cruikshank

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 22: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a faceoff against the New York Rangers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 22, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 22: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a faceoff against the New York Rangers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 22, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are out of excuses as Mitch Marner Returns to the Lineup

Coming off of an unmotivated and lacklustre third period performance last night against the Flyers, the Toronto Maple Leafs are back home to take on the Colorado Avalanche, and Mitch Marner is finally back in the lineup.

The Maple Leafs announced earlier today via Twitter that Nic Petan and Martin Marincin were both loaned to the Toronto Marlies, and that Marner has been activated to play in tonight’s game, and it couldn’t have happened any quicker.

Nick Shore has also been claimed on waivers by the Winnipeg Jets.

Marner will play alongside Tavares and Mikheyev tonight and will be slotted back on to the first power play line which consists of Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, Marner and Barrie.

Since suffering an ankle injury on November 9th against the Flyers, the Leafs power play has gone 6 for 25 for a brutal 24%. (Stats Courtesy of NHL.com)

This will be the first time Tyson Barrie has played on the ideal first power play unit this season, and will hopefully take advantage of one or two undisciplined Nazem Kadri penalties in his return to Toronto.

The Leafs gave up last night, and did not look like the same rejuvenated team that everyone has been talking about since firing Mike Babcock. While Marner’s return should excite fans, this is where the excuses end for why they have not been successful. Leafs fans have tried to justify losses for long enough, and this is on the players tonight.

It was also reported earlier today by Maple Leafs reporter Kristen Shilton that Frederik Andersen was not at the morning skate, which could potentially mean Andersen would have his first back-to-back start this season.

Personally I would love to see him play tonight. Andersen, who was recently snubbed from an All-Star selection, was rocking a .940 save percentage in the month of November, and this will be a good test tonight to see how he performs on short rest. (Stats Courtesy of NHL.com)

The Opponent

The Colorado Avalanche are on a three game winning streak since losing to the Leafs last Saturday, including an offensive clinic put on by Mikko Rantanen in his four point return in a 7-1 win against Chicago.

Rantanen joins the lineup alogside a red-hot Nathan MacKinnon, who is on a seven game point streak with 16 points in those games. Both players will be a serious issue for the Leafs penalty kill if the opportunities present itself.

Nazem Kadri will also make his return to Toronto tonight after spending ten years in the organization, and can be expected to play with a little extra edge and motivation tonight after feeling mistreated with the way things ended here.

The Avalanche have managed to put wins together despite having a goaltending group that has allowed a lot of goals recently. Philipp Grubauer will most likely get the start for the Avalanche tonight, and the Leafs should take advantage of this opportunity, as Grubauer has allowed an average of almost three goals a game in his last ten. (Stats Courtesy of NHL.com)

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It feels like every night I find myself saying ‘the Leafs have to win tonight’, but the fact is, the Leafs have to win tonight. With Marner back, and with the way they performed in the final minutes of last night’s game, the Leafs need to run this Avalanche team into the ground.

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