The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Calgary Flames for the second straight time tonight in Calgary.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were not at their best on Sunday Afternoon when they beat the Flames in yet another one-goal game, but the fact is, they got it done. Now, they are hoping a few lineup changes will improve their chances of stretching their record to 6-2.
While everyone was impressed with Jack Campbell’s gutsy performance in Sunday’s game, it seems that he will be hitting the I.R and that Michael Hutchinson will be back as the backup to Freddie Andersen.
If you’re looking for good news here, that news is that Hutchinson can’t possibly be as bad as he was last season, which was far more to do with bad luck than his actual talent level.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Flames
Obviously Freddie Andersen gets the start tonight, and other lineup changes are in store too.
Jason Spezza and Alex Barabanov are out, while Travis Boyd and Joey Anderson will make their Toronto Maple Leafs debuts.
Lehtonen going in for Dermott tonight vs. Flames, and Boyd and Anderson will get in for Spezza and Barabanov
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 26, 2021
The early season has tested the Leafs depth with injuries to Joe Thornton, Auston Matthews, and Nick Robertson. So far the Leafs have given a shot to Barabanov, Engvall, Spezza, Simmonds, Brooks, Vesey, Robertson (just a few mins. before injured) and now Boyd and Anderson.
This kind of depth is just flat-out awesome. You might not realize it because none of these guys are name players, but they’re all NHL players and eventually some of them are going to earn permeant lineup spots.
Should any of them falter, the Leafs can still turn to Kenny Agonisto, Nic Petan, Denis Malgin, Yegor Korshkov or Phillip Hallander. It’s not like these are great players, but all of them can be at the bare minimum a Wayne Simmonds level at 5v5 on a fourth line. It’s a good situation to have, and it will be interesting to see who holds down a spot. (Stats naturalstattrick.com).
Of these more-or-less interchangeable depth guys, the Leafs have gotten good stats out of Engvall and Vesey only. Vesey has been propped up by the insane start to the season of the Nylander/Tavares line, but I don’t really see him lasting in the top six, let alone as a dress-everynight player.
IMO Pierre Engvall should play every night, and someone else has to emerge to make a good fourth line. Spezza hasn’t been good, and neither has Barabanov (though they get such limited minutes its hard to knock them too much).
One other major change: Lehtonen is in for Dermott. I don’t like it, and I think they should take out Bogosian instead, but whatever. I do look forward to seeing what Boyd and Anderson bring tonight.