> ## 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. # Maple Leafs play their first ever game against Utah - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/maple-leafs-play-their-first-ever-game-against-utah/ - Published: 2024-11-24T17:00:28.000Z - Updated: 2024-11-24T19:11:36.000Z - Description: Welcome to Toronto, Utahns. - Author: Cathy Squires - Tags: Game Coverage ### Utah Hockey Club @ Toronto Maple Leafs 07:00 PM at Scotiabank Arena Watch on: NHLN, TVAS, TSN4, Utah16 ### The Leafs last game was at home on November 20 against the Vegas Golden Knights, which Toronto won by a score of 3-0 in regulation. The Leafs have a record of 12-6-2 for a 0.65 Points %. The Utah Hockey Club last played away on November 23 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Utah won by a score of 6-1 in regulation, and their current league record is 8-9-3 for a 0.475 Points %. ### Them Utah is not the Coyotes, but they are a very unusual team. At the end of the Coyotes rampage through hockey history, they had hired a good GM and coach, and had stacked up a lot of draft picks. This enabled Utah to sign players, draft good players and trade for players with an eye to being competitive. Their points say they aren't, but it's not quite that simple. At five-on-five, Utah have the fourth best Corsi % in the NHL. Their Expected Goals % is in the middle of the pack, virtually identical to the Leafs' number. They struggle to score, like the Leafs, and they are good at limiting goals against, but not excellent like the Leafs are. Their power play is poor, and their goaltending is actively hurting them. Now, that said, it depends on the goalie. Karel Vejmelka has been excellent in nine games and Connor Ingram has been dreadful in 13\. Utah is dealing with a rash of injuries on defence, which is why they traded for Olli Määttä and recalled Maveric Lamoureux, so they might be a little less gifted at keeping the puck than they have been. > Tourigny on [#UtahHC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/UtahHC?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Vejmelka (and if he will play tomorrow): > > "He radiates confidence." > > "We will surely talk about it. I don’t know if it’s the right move because it’s four \[games\] in six \[days\]. Probably the answer will be no, but we’ll see." > > — Belle Fraser (@bellefraser1) [November 24, 2024](https://twitter.com/bellefraser1/status/1860522769051463713?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) It seems unlikely that Utah will play Vejmelka two nights in a row. UPDATE: I missed the Ingram is injured, so the issue is more complex. Jaxson Stauber or Vejmelka, and at their late availability today, it was confirmed Vejmelka will start. #### Lines Belle Fraser via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/utah-hockey-club/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Clayton Keller - Barrett Hayton - Nick Schmaltz Jack McBain - Logan Cooley - Dylan Guenther Matias Maccelli - Nick Bjugstad - Lawson Crouse Alex Kerfoot - Kevin Stenlund - Michael Carcone Mikhail Sergachev - Olli Määttä Ian Cole - Maveric Lamoureux Michael Kesselring - Robert Bortuzzo ~~Connor Ingram - likely starter~~ Karel Vejmelka - confirmed starter Jaxson Stauber ### Us Everything is coming up Nylander on the Leafs. The constant discussion that with a handful of regulars out of the lineup, the Leafs lines look a little thin got silenced by an excellent game against Vegas. All Toronto has to do is do it again. #### Lines Nick Barden via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/toronto-maple-leafs/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Bobby McMann - John Tavares - Mitch Marner Nicholas Robertson - Pontus Holmberg - William Nylander Nikita Grebenkin - Fraser Minten - Alex Nylander Alexander Steeves - Connor Dewar - Steven Lorentz Morgan Rielly - Oliver Ekman-Larsson Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev Simon Benoit - Conor Timmins Anthony Stolarz Joe Woll ### The Game My advice to the Leafs is to pressure that weak defence, and listen to Matt Knies when he tells you to watch out for Logan Cooley. Utah has some very legitimate forwards, and their record lies a little about how good they are.