Leafs @ Avalanche - Dec. 29th, 9:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

[CarltonTheBear]

@

23-14-1, 47 points | 17-16-3, 37 points

Projected Lines

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander Marleau-Kadri-Komarov JVR-Bozak-Marner Martin-Moore-Brown Rielly-Hainsey Gardiner-Carrick Borgman-Polak McElhinney ​

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen Kerfoot-Jost-Yakupov Andrighetto-Compher-Wilson Nieto-Soderberg-Comeau Zadorov-Johnson Nemeth-Barberio ❤Girard❤-Lindholm Varlamov​

Scratches

Martin Marincin Josh Leivo ​

Gabriel Bourque Andrei Mironov ​

Game Notes

TOR
?McElhinney (3-4-0, 2.78 GAA, .916 Sv%) will likely start for the Leafs
?Kadri was injured in the 1st period against the Coyotes after taking an elbow to the head and did not return to the game. Babcock seemed hopeful after the game that the injury wasn't serious and that Kadri would be available to play. Knowing what we know about possible concussions, some might call that decision stupid. Others would call it very stupid.
?Two goals against, two penalties, and a 33.3% CF meant that Carrick had himself a rough night against Arizona. Is that Marty Marincin's music I hear?

COL
?Varlamov (12-9-2, 2.94 GAA, .909 Sv%) will likely start for the Avalanche
?19-year old rookie phenom Samuel Girard has suited up in 22 games for Colorado this season, in addition to the 5 he played with Nashville prior to being traded
?Girard has a CF% of 49.8% this season, which rounds up to 50%. That leads all Avalanche defencemen if you ignore one other defenceman
?The Avs found out on Wednesday that they'll be without Tyson Barrie for 4-6 weeks. Barrie was 4th among defencemen in scoring this season. This will no doubt free up ice-time for the sensational Samuel Girard
?Nathan MacKinnon has finally taken that next step offensively that many have been waiting for. He's on pace to score 91 points this season. In games with the superstar Samuel Girard Nathan has an outstanding 26 points in 22 games. Without him he has just a measily 14 points in 14 games

Injuries

?Nathan Horton - Back - Out indefinitely ?Joffrey Lupul - Actually Injured - Out indefinitely ?Nikita Soshnikov - Groin - Injured Reserve ?Nikita Zaitsev - Lower Body - Injured Reserve ?Nazem Kadri - Upper Body - Probable Friday​

?Tyson Barrie - Hand - Injured Reserve ?Vladislav Kamenev - Arm - Injured Reserve ?Sergei Boikov - Shoulder - Injured Reserve​

Stream Options

https://www.reddit.com/r/NHLstreams
​

 

[herman]

I feel like I just got punched in the face with a whole whack of Samuel Girard facts.

 

[Zee]

Damn Carlton, why are you dressing Polak again?

 

[Kin]

I feel like I just got punched in the face with a whole whack of Samuel Girard facts.

Yeah, well, Carlton will receive his comeuppance when you write the Korshkov-focused game facts for the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv @ Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik GDT.

 

[L K]

I feel like I just got punched in the face with a whole whack of Samuel Girard facts.

Yeah, well, Carlton will receive his comeuppance when you write the Korshkov-focused game facts for the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv @ Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik GDT.

Little known Korskov facts.  He is only 8 points behind former Leafs Brandon Kozun and 7 points behind former Leafs Staffan Kronwall in team scoring.  I think that makes him 3/4 of a Samuel Girard.

 

[herman]

I'd like to see more Marleau - Whoever - Marner this season (preferably Kadri when he returns).

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Pickard recalled, McBackup has a LBI.

Do they give Freddy the back to back tonight?

 

[herman]

Pickard recalled, McBackup has a LBI.

Do they give Freddy the back to back tonight?

https://twitter.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/946769984985890817

Why mess with a free storyline?

Also, Sports Science Department is pretty religious about never B2Bing goalies.

 

[bustaheims]

Every game against Colorado, I'm reminded of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8BWBn26bX0

 

[Bender]

Mc looked fine on the bench yesterday. I bet they want to see what they have in Pickard.

 

[Zee]

Revenge game for Pickard!

 

[Highlander]

Jean Luc, set phazers on stun.

 

[Captain Canuck]

I'm suspicious of the "injury" as well. I think it is more to reward Pickard's play with the Marlies, while being able to evaluate him with the Leafs.
McElhinney's hold on the backup spot is tenuous IMO, so why not bring up Pickard and see what he can do?

 

[Strangelove]

I've been mean to Romanuk this year but last night was next level bad. It's mindblowing that some Sportsnet executive considered their options, looked at Romanuk and Millen, and thought "that's who I want calling games for the largest fanbase in the league".

I used to think the TSN guys were bad back when Sportsnet had Bowen but oh man.

 

[herman]

According to Kristen Shilton, McElhinney was already bundled up in ice packs yesterday, so he was probably nursing something undocumented and they were hoping he'd be okay to go. Kapanen was sent down without a follow-up call up a few days ago, so they were probably waiting for McElhinney's status to decide.

As for why it wasn't Sparks that got the call, he was coming off an injury Wednesday, while Pickard was already rolling. I'm also not 100% sure about Pickard's waiver status, but since he hasn't been called up since being waived and traded earlier this year, we've got 10 games of play or 40 days on the active roster to yo-yo him without waivers, while Sparks would need it to go back down.

 

[Can8899]

I've been mean to Romanuk this year but last night was next level bad. It's mindblowing that some Sportsnet executive considered their options, looked at Romanuk and Millen, and thought "that's who I want calling games for the largest fanbase in the league".

I used to think the TSN guys were bad back when Sportsnet had Bowen but oh man.

Could not agree more on Romanuk.  My "favorite" from last night was the confusion between Jeff Chychrun and Steve Chiasson with the fatal car accident.  He also incorrectly ID'd players on multiple occasions last night.  He usually does that every so often but last night he did it several times.  I don't necessarily care about the faulty ID's but his constant effort to make some sort of magical call is what gets to me.  I hate that every time I want to watch AM34's first game I have to hear Romanuk call the debut "Luminescent".

As for Millen, I don't mind him too much but wouldn't miss him either. 

I miss Bowen on the broadcasts simply for his passion for the Leafs and it's the voice I grew up with.

Hopefully some sort of change happens soon...

 

[bustaheims]

Millen often seems like he doesn't understand rules that have been in the game for decades. He's easily confused and not particularly insightful. An upgrade there is very much in order.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

According to Kristen Shilton, McElhinney was already bundled up in ice packs yesterday, so he was probably nursing something undocumented and they were hoping he'd be okay to go.

Yeah I mean he's a 34-year old who plays a fairly acrobatic style and would have been off the ice for a few days over the holiday break. It's not that surprising to hear he's a little sore after getting back to work.

 

[disco]

Avs forwards will be assimilated by Pickard and Borgman tonight.
I'm glad our backups are meme compatible.

 

[herman]

According to Kristen Shilton, McElhinney was already bundled up in ice packs yesterday, so he was probably nursing something undocumented and they were hoping he'd be okay to go.

Yeah I mean he's a 34-year old who plays a fairly acrobatic style and would have been off the ice for a few days over the holiday break. It's not that surprising to hear he's a little sore after getting back to work.

All of his December starts were 5 days apart, while this season his previous games had come ~10 days apart. On top of the numerous warmups to get game ready and then sit cold while Andersen takes the net, is pretty thankless.