Toronto Maple Leafs Tasked With Some Game Time Decisions

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be heading to Philadelphia, the home of Paddy’s Pub, to play the Flyers.

The Toronto Maple Leafs recent lost to the Kings, but have a chance to win six out of seven if they get back on track when they visit the Flyers tonight.   The Flyers are a solid 6-2-2 on the year, mysteriously playing three games less than the Leafs so far.  What do they have to hide? One wonders.

Whenever two teams play each in the NHL, it is customary to muse aloud about how the guys facing their former teams will be looking for a good game.  JVR and Wayne Simmonds are probably answering cliched questions about facing their old team as you read this.

“Wayne, these guys paid you millions of dollars for like a decade, now you’re back, tell us your feelings because we literally cannot think of a single new idea?”

“Well Jim, I’m just going to keep my stick on the ice and get some pucks in deep like any other game. Only this time, I will do so with a seething rage that comes from a slight injury to my pride during what has otherwise been basically me living out my dreams to a miraculous extent.”

If that was how player interviews went, I might actually want to watch one.  Anyways, outside of manufacturing  lame story lines, there is an interesting development to tonight’s game:

John Tavares and Ondrej Kase are game time decisions.  If they can’t go, then Joey Anderson and Kirill Semyonov will make their 2021 and Toronto Maple Leafs debuts, respectively.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers

That’s a pretty big blow if they can’t go…and one thing I don’t understand though, is that it’s November, so if there’s even a question to whether a player should play, why risk it?  The Leafs don’t need Tavares in November, they need him in April and May. I say just let the two new guys debut and see what happens.

As for the Flyers, they have an injury to Ryan Ellis and will be starting Carter Hart in net.  It’s Jack Campbell for the Leafs, because, who else is it going to be?

Petr Mrazek remains on the IR, and the Leafs will look to see if Campbell is indeed the Vezina candidate he’s performed as so far with them.  If Campbell is in fact the goalie he’s been so far this year, then he’s the most valuable dollar-for-dollar player in the NHL and the Leafs will be nearly unstoppable.   With the offense scuffling, it’s Campbell whose been the MVP so far and kept the team above .500.

Look for him to bounce back after a so-so game Monday.