Leafs Host The Islanders

by JP Nikota on Jan 23, 2012 4:53 PM EST in Maple Leafs Game Previews

Puck Drop: 7:00

TV: RIS (HD), LEAFS TV

Radio: AM 640

Yes, Jonas Gustavsson is starting in net, and yes, the New York Islanders have won three games in a row heading into tonight, but let's face it: they're still the New York Islanders, and the Leafs are facing them at the ACC. After a disappointing loss against the Habs, this is the perfect rebound opportunity. Even with those three consecutive wins, the Islanders are still just one point out of last place in the Eastern Conference.

Two wins tonight and tomorrow would put the Leafs back in the playoff picture, and all will be well in Leafland. Let's keep our chins up, heads on swivels, and sticks on the ice. Let's have a little optimism!

The lines for both teams, as per James Mirtle, are expected to look thusly:

Projected lineup

Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
Lombardi - Connolly - Kadri
Crabb - Grabovski - Kulemin
MacArthur - Steckel - Brown

Phaneuf - Schenn
Gardiner - Franson
Gunnarsson - Komisarek

Gustavsson

Isles lineup (based on last game)

Okposo - Tavares - Moulson
Grabner - Nielsen - Parenteau
Rolston - Bailey - Martin
Pandolfo - Wallace - Niederreiter

Jurcina - Streit
Hamonic - MacDonald
Eaton - Reese

Nabokov

John Tavares has a 12-game, 13-point streak going, is going to have to be silenced tonight, so let's hope that the PK remains perfect, and the Leafs' defensemen are ready for him. Other notable contributors of late among the Islanders have been Kyle Okposo (11 pts. in 12 games), and Evgeni Nabokov (5-1-0, 1.32 GAA) though I'm not so worried about facing Nabby.

GO LEAFS GO

Tweet Comment 39 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

they don’t like kadri’s comments about tavares not liking to be hit over around lighthouse Hockey

Resident teetotaler married to a habs fan. Who is also not a fan of most dogs.

by elseldo on Jan 23, 2012 4:59 PM EST via Android app reply actions

Road trip?

No one ever suspects the butterfly...

by Caleafornia on Jan 23, 2012 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

Behave.

Not followin' @JPNikota on Twitter? Oh, you better believe that's a paddlin'.

by JP Nikota on Jan 23, 2012 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

lighthouse hockey is where that 6’5 dad can beat up our dads

Dion Phaneuf: turning the tunes up since '10

Follow Me On Twitter!

by thenumber14 on Jan 23, 2012 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

Would you like to be associated with the dumbest person ever to use PPP? Think about that. There are some good people over at LHH.

Not followin' @JPNikota on Twitter? Oh, you better believe that's a paddlin'.

by JP Nikota on Jan 23, 2012 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

woah woah woah i just liked that story. I’m not going anywhere. Hard enough to keep up in this GDT let alone two.

Dion Phaneuf: turning the tunes up since '10

Follow Me On Twitter!

by thenumber14 on Jan 23, 2012 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

I am aware of the ads beating up meme but not this story.

Resident teetotaler married to a habs fan. Who is also not a fan of most dogs.

by elseldo on Jan 23, 2012 5:25 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

hey the guys calling you a selfish Toronto writer 1967 etc….

Resident teetotaler married to a habs fan. Who is also not a fan of most dogs.

by elseldo on Jan 23, 2012 5:37 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

I am visiting but being nice about it.

Resident teetotaler married to a habs fan. Who is also not a fan of most dogs.

by elseldo on Jan 23, 2012 5:06 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

haha if they’re going to pull quotes, at least use the entire sentence

"He’s a gifted player, one that we’ll have to pay close attention to," Kadri said. "I don’t think Johnny likes to getting hit too much so we need to try to put the body on him."

by m3smth on Jan 23, 2012 5:40 PM EST up reply actions

Is that Tim Brent in that picture?

by Devon Pike on Jan 23, 2012 5:00 PM EST reply actions

Dion Smash!

At least it's not Lebda.

by Nifty Mittens on Jan 23, 2012 5:04 PM EST reply actions

12 games 21 points!

@thesilverfoxto
my blog, "The Silver Fox", chick it out!

by pho king awesome on Jan 23, 2012 5:18 PM EST reply actions

z

I’m in class during the game , so enjoy the Phanuef based murder.
GO LEAFS GO!

At least it's not Lebda.

by Nifty Mittens on Jan 23, 2012 5:26 PM EST reply actions

“I get to be the big spoon.”
“No I wanna be the big spo-”
“I’M THE BIG SPOON.”

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jan 23, 2012 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs

Go Leafs Go!

Gonna miss the first period, So please Dion, don’t smash until the second period.

by SanityNoMore on Jan 23, 2012 5:28 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

can’t he smash all game?

by Goosemonster on Jan 23, 2012 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

but let’s face it: they’re still the New York Islanders

Welp, 5-1 Isles thanks JP.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jan 23, 2012 5:32 PM EST reply actions

BF3?
BF3.

The First Certified Grabbo Lover

by SkinnyFish on Jan 23, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

Game prediction as predicted by my crystal ball which may or may not be a copy of NHL 94:

Leafs 3-1 victory. Potvin makes 35 saves. Gilmour pots two, Borschevsky, Turgeon score for TOR, NYI respectively.

Clark makes Ferraro’s head bleed.

TWEET AT ME BRO
DAAAAA BLOG
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)

by FiftyMissionCap on Jan 23, 2012 5:36 PM EST reply actions

I wish ALL games were predictions of NHL 94. Fuck Kerry Fraser

by SlickWill on Jan 23, 2012 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

I’m doing an NHL 12 prediction at the moment with accurate lines.

Jurcina put it in his own net 3 minutes in. Hope tonight goes just as well.

If I bled any more blue, you'd think I wasn't human.

by Adrian O on Jan 23, 2012 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Best.

The First Certified Grabbo Lover

by SkinnyFish on Jan 23, 2012 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

Wow was this close to bull’s eye.(!)

Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.

by Dominik on Jan 23, 2012 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

Lombardi is the new Gilmour.

"They build a statue, they knock it down and piss on it, and now they will be out there building it again."

by ThickSkinnedAlive on Jan 24, 2012 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

damn my bus is arriving just as its getting fun. martys30 or whatever is starting up a great anti-leafs rant at LHH

Resident teetotaler married to a habs fan. Who is also not a fan of most dogs.

by elseldo on Jan 23, 2012 5:38 PM EST via Android app reply actions

Question

If I posted a Youtube link to a song, would that violate SBNation’s policy on copyright infringement, the same as an unauthorized game stream?

by samspade on Jan 23, 2012 6:07 PM EST reply actions

They might Tase you, but probably no prison.

I shot a moose once, in upstate New York.

by not norm ullman on Jan 23, 2012 6:10 PM EST up reply actions

It’s a serious question, because I know the Overlords are required to remove links to a game stream.

by samspade on Jan 23, 2012 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

No. That would be referencing someone already freely distributed material. Almost like telling a friend to turn on their radio.
Linking to unauthorized game stream is different. That is actually taking away revenue.

At least it's not Lebda.

by Nifty Mittens on Jan 23, 2012 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks.

by samspade on Jan 23, 2012 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Youtube links are fine because they’re not illegal, because fuck SOPA.

The First Certified Grabbo Lover

by SkinnyFish on Jan 23, 2012 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

How could the Leafs lose when our PPP caricature for the game has such awesome facial hair?

PPP Caricature Series: Mike Brown? Edition

Riding the Leafs bandwagon since 1991.
Check out my art!

by CanadianMaple09 on Jan 23, 2012 6:19 PM EST reply actions

Just saw this one Reddit; discuss.

No one ever suspects the butterfly...

by Caleafornia on Jan 23, 2012 6:31 PM EST reply actions

This has been posted here several times over the past week or two…

Riding the Leafs bandwagon since 1991.
Check out my art!

by CanadianMaple09 on Jan 23, 2012 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

Apologies. Thought it was apt in this trying time.

No one ever suspects the butterfly...

by Caleafornia on Jan 23, 2012 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

Inevitable: Discussion of Toronto having 13 Cups. Vancouver and Ottawa having no cups.

Riding the Leafs bandwagon since 1991.
Check out my art!

by CanadianMaple09 on Jan 23, 2012 6:56 PM EST up reply actions

Hope the boys can turn it around and go on a run. A run so strong that they finish 7th in the East. So that they don’t have to be swept by Boston in the 1st round.

Fuck it, I would love to be swept by Boston at this point

by PhilSpecter on Jan 23, 2012 6:35 PM EST reply actions