Gameday has arrived for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets face off for Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs Qualifying Round match-up.
Both the Leafs and Blue Jackets are coming into this game with wins in their respective exhibition games, with mostly healthy rosters after an injury-plagued season.
The match-up on paper is the Leafs offence versus the Columbus defense. Another way to look at it is Toronto’s superstars vs. the complete team effort of the Blue Jackets. The Leafs from the top down have to shine bright in order to achieve success.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Jackets
One interesting wrinkle that hasn’t been mentioned enough is the coaching match-up. John Tortorella was Sheldon Keefe’s coach in Tampa Bay when Keefe made his NHL debut.
Keefe has said in the past that he owes a lot to “Torts” for helping him get to where he is today. This playoff series will be a good test to see if the student has become the master.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to be bringing the following lineup into Game 1:
Forwards
Nylander-Matthews-Hyman
Mikheyev-Tavares-Marner
Robertson-Kerfoot-Kapanen
Clifford-Gauthier-Spezza
Defense:
Muzzin-Holl
Rielly-Ceci
Dermott-Barrie
As expected, Frederik Andersen will get the start in net. Jack Campbell will back-up (and be the team hype-man, stick taps all around).
Rookie sensation Nick Robertson will make his official NHL debut tonight, the first 18-year-old to play for the Leafs in a playoff series since Luke Schenn.
Per Columbus reporter Mark Scheig, Columbus will ice this lineup for Game 1:
Forwards:
Foligno-Wennberg-Atkinson
Texier-Dubois-Bjorkstrand
Nyquist-Jenner-Foudy
Robinson-Nash-Bemstrom
Defense:
Werenski-Jones
Gavrikov-Savard
Murray-Kukan
Joonas Korpisalo starts in net, Elvis Merzlikens will back-up.
John Tavares on John Tortorella’s decision to start Korpisalo:
John Tavares on CBJ naming Korpisalo over Merzlikins as starting goalie: "We prepared for both guys. We've just tried to do the best job we can pre-scouting that and getting the information we need and watching video and preparing yourself for whoever it may be."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) August 2, 2020
Tavares on Korpisalo: "We prepared for both guys. They have relied on both ... they trust both of them strongly. We have to be on our game and take advantage of our opportunities." #Leafs
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) August 2, 2020
Korpisalo’s career record and stats versus the Leafs: 5-3-0, a .914 save percentage and a 2.87 GAA, mostly as Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup. In two games versus the Maple Leafs this season he posted a 1-1 record, during which he allowed seven goals.
Andersen’s career record and stats versus the Blue Jackets: 6-2-3, with a .918 save percentage and a 2.79 GAA.
Puck drop is at 8 PM.