Leafs @ Wild - Oct. 20th, 8:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[CarltonTheBear]

@

1-0-2, 4 points | 2-1-0, 4 points

Projected Lines

Michalek-Kadri-Komarov JVR-Bozak-Marner Hyman-Matthews-Nylander Martin-Holland-Brown Rielly-Marincin Gardiner-Carrick Hunwick-Zaitsev Enroth ​

Parise-Staal-Coyle Granlund-Koivu-Stewart Niederreiter-Haula-Pominville Zucker-Dalpe-Pulkkinen Suter-Spurgeon Scandella-Brodin Reilly-Folin Dubnyk​

Scratches

Frank Corrado Roman Polak Seth Griffith ​

Matt Dumba Nate Prosser​

Game Notes

TOR
?Enroth will make his Leafs debut in net
?Seems possible that we might have some scratches moved into the line-up, but won't know for sure until later on

MIN
?Dubnyk likely starts for the Wild
?Minnesota may play 7 defenceman if forward Jason Zucker is unable to play

Injuries

?Nathan Horton - Back - Out indefinitely ?Stephane Robidas - Old - Out indefinitely ?Joffrey Lupul - ?\_(ツ)_/? - Out indefinitely ?Josh Leivo - Lower Body - Injured Reserve​

?Jason Zucker - Undisclosed - Day to day​

Stream Options

https://www.reddit.com/r/NHLstreams
​

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Brilliant as always Carlton.

Can we all agree to give Anderson 10 games before crucifying him, no matter what happens tonight?

 

[bustaheims]

Can we all agree to give Anderson 10 games before crucifying him, no matter what happens tonight?

Nope. All judgments must be snap judgments made on a game-to-game basis. Thems the rules.

 

[Arn]

?Joffrey Lupul - ?\_(ツ)_/? - Out indefinitely

Delighted we went with that one!

Interesting to see how the young team bounces back from a relatively disappointing night last night, and in their first back to back of many

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Can we all agree to give Anderson 10 games before crucifying him, no matter what happens tonight?

Nope. All judgments must be snap judgments made on a game-to-game basis. Thems the rules.

I didn't think his Ottawa game was very good but I thought he was fine last night.  I don't know if there's somewhere that tracks those kinds of chances for specific games, but it felt like even though the Leafs had more shots that the Jets chances were more dangerous and from closer.

 

[herman]

Can we all agree to give Anderson 10 games before crucifying him, no matter what happens tonight?

Nope. All judgments must be snap judgments made on a game-to-game basis. Thems the rules.

I didn't think his Ottawa game was very good but I thought he was fine last night.  I don't know if there's somewhere that tracks those kinds of chances for specific games, but it felt like even though the Leafs had more shots that the Jets chances were more dangerous and from closer.

Jets chances were more dangerous because they were largely preceded by E-W passes

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Can we all agree to give Anderson 10 games before crucifying him, no matter what happens tonight?

Through 3 games my opinion of him hasn't really changed from the time of the trade. He's a perfectly average starting goalie. He'll make the saves that he should, but he's not generally going to steal you 2 points when your team has a stinker. There's nothing really wrong with that but that's not the kind of goalie we should have traded a 1st and 2nd for and signed to an expensive contract. I still just can't wrap my head around that one.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I didn't think his Ottawa game was very good but I thought he was fine last night.  I don't know if there's somewhere that tracks those kinds of chances for specific games, but it felt like even though the Leafs had more shots that the Jets chances were more dangerous and from closer.

Jets chances were more dangerous because they were largely preceded by E-W passes

And while the Leafs did outshoot them the Jets had a considerable edge in shot attempts. They just had a lot of shots that either got blocked or missed the net, but that kept the Leafs scrambling. I remember a bunch of times where a shot got blocked and it was followed up by an even better opportunity right after because a Winnipeg player got to the loose puck first. A couple of their goals were scored like that too.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I didn't think his Ottawa game was very good but I thought he was fine last night.  I don't know if there's somewhere that tracks those kinds of chances for specific games, but it felt like even though the Leafs had more shots that the Jets chances were more dangerous and from closer.

Jets chances were more dangerous because they were largely preceded by E-W passes

And while the Leafs did outshoot them the Jets had a considerable edge in shot attempts. They just had a lot of shots that either got blocked or missed the net, but that kept the Leafs scrambling. I remember a bunch of times where a shot got blocked and it was followed up by an even better opportunity right after because a Winnipeg player got to the loose puck first. A couple of their goals were scored like that too.

Yeah the Wheeler (I think) goal especially where Marner tried to block it and it bounced right to Wheeler.  Also for the last half of the game it felt like the Jets were a brick wall at the blueline and the Leafs would get it to just that far and could not get it past.  Led to a whole lot of scrambling around defensively.  I thought it was easily their worst game, and they still managed a point!

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I thought it was easily their worst game, and they still managed a point!

It's very interesting to watch the narrative unfold, right now it seems to be that there is a lot of youthful mistakes, there are going to be growing pains etc.

I wonder if they take something tonight and at the weekend if the dominant narrative becomes the one I've highlighted in your post.

Yes, there are going to be growing pains and yes other teams are going to get wise to these Leafs, but this team is very deep and are going to be too much for quite a lot of teams when they get their systems tighter defensively.

 

[TBLeafer]

Brilliant as always Carlton.

Can we all agree to give Anderson 10 games before crucifying him, no matter what happens tonight?

Why, do you see Enroth getting chased from the crease for his debut as a Leaf?

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Brilliant as always Carlton.

Can we all agree to give Anderson 10 games before crucifying him, no matter what happens tonight?

Why, do you see Enroth getting chased from the crease for his debut as a Leaf?

No, I see Enroth having a good game and the unsilent minority of mouth breathers among Leafs Nation declaring that he is better than Andersen.

 

[Kaberle15]

perfect game to rebound.

The Leafs play 6 road games in the first 9 of the season.

So far, they manage to get at least a point in each game.
Andersen made some amazing saves last night, and when you give little room to a guy as talented as Laine, he will hurt you. I do not blame him for any of the goals last night. 1st and last were 2 on 1. goals 2, 3, and 4 he had no chance at all.

Go kids Go!!!

 

[mrg16]

Let's see how the kids bounce back tonight.  Vets know how to shake off losses like last night.  I think Marincin needs a night off and Gardiner needs to be reminded about when to pinch.  Enroth give Andersen a break eventhough he has played well the last 2 games.  Without Andersen early last night the Leafs could have been behind the 8 ball early.  The Kadri line needs to bring that grit and forechecking game again.  Bozak, JVR and Marner will creat chances and the HNM line will produce and  their work in the defensive zone will improve over the season.  The PP needs to keep rolling and the PK can only be better.  I see a 4-2 win.  Only because so far we can score 4 goals a game.

 

[Crucialness Key]

?Joffrey Lupul - ?\_(ツ)_/? - Out indefinitely

Delighted we went with that one!

Me too, that's a perfect choice

 

[TBLeafer]

 

[wnc096]

I think Marincin needs a night off

Marinicin cannot be playing 20+ mins again....

 

[Coco-puffs]

I think Marincin needs a night off

Marinicin cannot be playing 20+ mins again....

If he's paired with Reilly and we have a lead most of the game, you bet he will.  If we are chasing the game, Zaitsev will probably slide up to play with Reilly in the latter half of the game.  He also played 24 mins last night though!  Gardiner and Carrick didn't even hit 14 mins... Babcock wasn't happy with them!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

There were a few times last night where Marincin bobbled plays that he would have probably made properly had he not been on his backhand. The sooner Rielly-Zaitsev becomes a pairing the better. And it shouldn't take too long, Zaitsev's 2nd on the team in ice-time so far so Babcock's clearly taken a liking to him.

 

[mrg16]

I think a pairing of Reilly and Zaitsev for the night would be a good fit for both.  Reilly has a great defensive game and can go when required.  Same for Zaitsev.  He is an experienced d-man from the KHL who can also play well in is own end and both can outlet the puck well and show little panic in their own end.  I know that Polak is slow but pairing him with Hunwick as a shut down pair seems more suited and Gardiner needs to up his game and play a little smarter.  Corrado for Carrick to see what happens as well too.  IMO it wasn't the forwards or the goalie that let us down last night.