> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Game Preview: Minnesota Wild at the Toronto Maple Leafs - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/game-preview-minnesota-wild-at-the-toronto-maple-leafs/ - Published: 2016-03-03T19:56:16.000Z - Updated: 2016-03-03T19:56:16.000Z - Description: Baby Leafs' first NHL back-to-back! Who scores for the first time tonight? - Author: Achariya - Tags: Game Coverage, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:15 #### [Minnesota Wild](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/minnesota-wild?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) at [Toronto Maple Leafs](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### 7:30PM - Air Canada Centre #### TV: Sportsnet Ontario RADIO: Sportsnet 590 #### SBN: [Hockey Wilderness](http://www.hockeywilderness.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### Head to Head | Teams | **Minnesota** | **Toronto** | | ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Record | 29-25-10 | 21-31-10 | | Conference | 8th in west | 16th in east | | League | 17th | 30th | | Goals +/- | 170/162 = +8 | 149/185 = -36 | | Top Scorer | [Charlie Coyle](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/111544/charlie-coyle?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) (21) | [Leo Komarov](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/156612/leo-komarov?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) (18) | | Top Points | [Mikko Koivu](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54708/mikko-koivu?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) (43) | Leo Komarov (35) | | Goalie | [Devan Dubnyk](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55090/devan-dubnyk?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) .917/2.39 | [Garret Sparks](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/132408/garret-sparks?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) .917/2.48 | | Mascot | Nordy | Carlton | #### Storylines The Minnesota Wild are struggling in a tough division. They need to munch points to maintain their hold on the last wildcard slot in the West, tied with the [Colorado Avalanche](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/colorado-avalanche?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) at 68 points each. At the trade deadline, GM Chuck Fletcher made only one important move, to trade redundant goaltender Niklas Backstrom (not that one) to the [Calgary Flames](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/calgary-flames?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) for [David Jones](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55504/david-jones?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). The Wild fanbase is ... not the happiest right now. Are they facing a rebuild this summer, including a new GM to match the interim coach? [Speculation is, yes](http://www.hockeywilderness.com/2016/3/2/11139580/does-trading-niklas-backstrom-save-fletchers-job?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). > Prior to the season starting, Fletcher commented about how was happy with this team. They beat a tough [St. Louis Blues](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/st-louis-blues?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) team in the playoffs last year and ran into a [Chicago Blackhawks](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/chicago-blackhawks?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) squad that took no mercy. Maybe it was just posturing by Fletcher. He didn't have much cap space and his roster is littered with NMC's so what else can he say? Placing confidence in his team was really his only option at that point. On the other side of the ice, the Leafs' rebuild is in full swing. Leafs' front office is nice and tidy, there are a wealth of options for the future, there are kids eager to play and win -- now it's just a matter of waiting until they learn how. It's worth noting that tonight is the first NHL back-to-back that several of the kids will play. However, they'll undoubtedly find it a lot more relaxing than the back-to-back-to-backs that happen in the minors. Also, no all-night bus to the next venue! #### How quickly can Nylander and Kapanen evolve? Mike Babcock praised Soshnikov's play during press availability today, saying, "I loved him. Six finished checks. Pissed people off. They knew he was out there. He was for real." This should be nothing but a goad for Nylander and Kapanen. After last night's game, Babcock said of them, "If you're not going to compete, it doesn't matter how much skill you have." Damn, kids. You better wake up! **\[Illustrative analytics and explanation by Katya:\]** A quick look at the rookie shooting from the two games played shows a little of what Babcock was seeing. This is individual high-danger shots (iHSC), individual scoring chances(iSC) and individual shots (iCF) In the Tampa game, Kapanen and Shoshnikov were getting it done, and Nylander was not as effective even though his line matchup was carefully restricted. In the Capitals game, Soshnikov stayed good, Hyman got better, and our other two boys in blue? Not so good. Remember that in the Tampa game, the Leafs dominated offensively, so you should expect more chances there than in Washington which was a closer game. **\[Thank you, Katya!\]** The one change in the lineup is that Brad Boyes is injured, so he'll be replaced by Brendan Leipsic. And this is an interesting observation from Mr. PlatinumSeatGhosts: Platinum Seat Ghosts @3rdPeriodSuits Leafs current active 23-man roster: Average age: 25 Players with a cap hit less than 1M: 13 Average cap hit: 1.71M Total cap hit: 39.3M...Meaning that the Leafs' roster on the ice tonight is about 13M below the cap floor. SIGN MATT CARLE! #### Leafs Lines [Nikita Soshnikov](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/254124/nikita-soshnikov?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Nazem Kadri - Leo Komarov [Michael Grabner](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54484/michael-grabner?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [William Nylander](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/246220/william-nylander?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Zach Hyman [Brendan Leipsic](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/157821/brendan-leipsic?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Peter Holland](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/71829/peter-holland?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Kasperi Kapanen](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/246176/kasperi-kapanen?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Colin Greening - [Ben Smith](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/109119/ben-smith?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Brooks Laich Matt Hunwick - [Morgan Rielly](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/157191/morgan-rielly?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [Jake Gardiner](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/130014/jake-gardiner?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Frank Corrado Martin Marincin - [Connor Carrick](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/157299/connor-carrick?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Garret Sparks Jonathan Bernier #### Wild Lines [Zach Parise](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54960/zach-parise?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Mikko Koivu - Charlie Coyle [Chris Porter](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55145/chris-porter?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Mikael Granlund](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/111525/mikael-granlund?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Thomas Vanek](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55204/thomas-vanek?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [Nino Niederreiter](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/111521/nino-niederreiter?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Erik Haula](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/192431/erik-haula?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Jason Pominville](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55208/jason-pominville?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [Ryan Carter](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54516/ryan-carter?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Jarret Stoll](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54569/jarret-stoll?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Justin Fontaine](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/131844/justin-fontaine?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [Ryan Suter](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54418/ryan-suter?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Jared Spurgeon](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/122652/jared-spurgeon?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [Marco Scandella](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/71021/marco-scandella?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Mathew Dumba [Mike Reilly](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/132344/mike-reilly?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- [Nate Prosser](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/107967/nate-prosser?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Devan Dubnyk Darcy Kuemper