Toronto Maple Leafs: Ilya Samsonov Has Something to Prove
The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their points streak by losing to the New York Rangers on Thursday.
Ironically, it was one of the most lopsided games the Toronto Maple Leafs played during their 15 game points streak, but the Rangers prevailed anyways.
Mitch Marner’s point streak came to an end, in large part because the referees had no problem with someone breaking their stick over his hands, while he was in full possession of the puck in the offensive zone.
Logically, a referee is not an owl, so we can’t expect him to see everything.
The NHL has bush-league officiating, which you know if you’ve ever watched more than one game.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Washington Capitals
The Leafs will take on the Capitals tonight, and Ilya Samsonov will face his old team.
Alex Ovechkin will look for goal 801. It’s nice he’s going to become the NHL’s goal scoring leader, but it’s worth looking up how few games it took Gretzky to get to 700.
The best goal scorer (and player) of all-time is Mario Lemieux, and Alex Ovechkin, as great as he is, is merely average in comparison to the greatest player to have ever lived.
As for tonight’s game, I am sure it will be great.
The Leafs appear to have caught a break regarding the injury to a key player:
Sheldon Keefe says they felt good about Timothy Liljegren’s availability today given the x-rays following the game came back negative. Mac Hollowell was called up as a precautionary move as Liljegren wasn’t the only player banged up.
— David Alter (@dalter) December 17, 2022
The Leafs called up Hollowell, but likely won’t need him, as the xrays on Liljegren didn’t show any breaks. The Leafs have been pretty unlucky when it comes to injuries this season so far, so that was a nice break for them.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will go with the same lineup that they used against New York.
The Capitals are struggling this year, their current record is 15-13-4. The Leafs should have no trouble with them, but it’s the NHL so that is never the case. The Capitals won’t have have Nicklas Backstrom tonight, as he is yet to play this year. He is, however, taking contact and due back anytime.
Former Leafs player Nicholas Aube-Kubal will be a healthy scratch tonight, and likely will be on waivers again soon. Will the Leafs get him back? Stay tuned!
Next. Leafs Now Have 3 x Franchise Players. dark
Mitch Marner’s streak might have ended, but the underrated Michael Bunting is now on an eleven game points streak of his own. He has goals in back-to-back games.
It should be a fun game, but either way, it’s back home to face Tampa on Tuesday.