> ## 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 vs Islanders Preview: It’s your time to Sparkle, Garret - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/maple-leafs-vs-islanders-preview-its-your-time-sparkle-garret-sparks-frederik-andersen-john-tavares/ - Published: 2018-12-29T19:00:06.000Z - Updated: 2018-12-29T19:00:06.000Z - Description: Maple Leafs face the Islanders, and it’s all about the goalie drama. - Author: Cathy Squires - Tags: Game Coverage, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:27 ### Toronto Maple Leafs with John Tavares vs New York Islanders without John Tavares in Game #39 ### Time: 7:00 p.m. ### Location: SBA ### Broadcast/Streaming: HNIC on CBC, [**CBC.ca**](http://cbc.ca/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **and SN1; MSG** ### Opponent SBNation Site: [**Lighthouse Hockey**](https://www.lighthousehockey.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Yesterday, before Garret Sparks got an unexpected start in the first half of a back-to-back, Mike Babcock had a bafflegab explanation for that: > Babcock on starting Sparks tonight over Andersen: "We felt that after a break, it's important for Freddie to get some practice in. Freddie is our guy and we have to make sure he's healthy. We'll probably do it after the next break as well." > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [December 29, 2018](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1078851077083222018?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) After that win over Columbus, he said this: > Babcock on where Sparks is at now: "I thought Sparks made some saves tonight. Lots of games we played, we've scored lots of goals for him and we found a way to win. Tonight he had to make some big saves. That's positive for him; gives you confidence." > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [December 29, 2018](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1078852074836840448?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) And then: > Is Babcock hoping to play Andersen less in the second half? "I say this every time you guys ask me, I say the same thing: hope is great, but I don't know how it's going to go. I'm going to do whatever I got to do to get ourselves in the playoffs." > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [December 29, 2018](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1078851714692931585?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Then today we get the news: --- #### Related [Toronto Maple Leafs call up Kasimir Kaskisuo; Andersen injured](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-news-frederik-andersen-injury-kasimir-kaskisuo-nhl-debut-garret-sparks/) --- He was lying! All the time! I confess, I called Mr Babcock some intemperate names heard more often out of the mouths of self-satisfied CEOs of Texas teams. Then I might have asked exactly how you injure your groin over Christmas. Care to explain, Freddie? But it seems the Leafs were living in the land of hope, hoping that Andersen would feel well enough to play today. At any rate, as far as tonight goes, the opportunity is there for Sparks to really dial in and build off a very good game yesterday. I don’t count the second CBJ goal against him, that was a glorious setup that makes me wonder why Columbus isn’t a better team. While the Leafs were busy rolling the Blue Jackets, the Islanders were playing the Ottawa Senators, and seemed to need both goalies to do that. That seems ominous. Thomas Greiss played 26 minutes and Robin Lehner played 33. Greiss was pulled early in the second period after letting the Sens get up 3-1\. Bold move on the first of a back-to-back, and we need to remember that the Islanders may have filled their team with grinders and good pros while they wait out the terrifyingly bad contracts they’re saddled with, but the coach isn’t a dummy. Barry Trotz will have to pick one of his two goalies to start tonight. Who finishes is anyone’s guess. As for the Leafs, we just want Kasimir Kaskisuo on clipboard duty all night long. ### Maple Leafs #### Forward Lines Patrick Marleau - Auston Matthews - Kasperi Kapanen Andreas Johnsson - John Tavares - Mitch Marner Connor Brown - Nazem Kadri - William Nylander Par Lindholm - Frederik Gauthier - Trevor Moore **Defence Pairings** Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev Travis Dermott - Igor Ozhiganov #### Goaltenders Garret Sparks Kasimir Kaskisuo ### New York Islanders from [Leftwinglock.com](http://leftwinglock.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) and the pregame warmup yesterday #### Forward Lines Anthony Beauvillier - Mathew Barzal - Josh Bailey Anders Lee - Brock Nelson - Joshua Ho-Sang Tom Kuhnhackl - Valtteri Filppula - Leo Komarov Ross Johnston - Casey Cizikas - Matt Martin #### Defence Pairings Nick Leddy - Johnny Boychuk Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock Devon Toews - Scott Mayfield #### Goaltenders Thomas Griess Robin Lehner --- So all these goalie shenanigans is taking the heat off of John Tavares nicely. I’m sure this game will be emotional for him, and we want the Leafs to score early, score often, and just never stop. Four-goal game? Why not? The first Leafs game on the Island will be the real narrative monster, tonight is just a little bittersweet. I am betting there will be tribute videos to Matt Martin and Leo Komarov, and they both have a lot of really good friends on the Leafs who will want to say hey. For all the JT hype, I’m just waiting for the first Naz vs Leo shift. The Islanders put Jordan Eberle on IR today and called up a forward from the AHL. Matt Martin knocked Thomas Chabot out of the game last night with a very late hit. There’s been no word of a suspension, so I suppose he got away with one. It’s not really his MO to go for the headshot, but this wasn’t pretty. > [#Sens](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sens?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Thomas Chabot injury [pic.twitter.com/kkxojNAvcS](https://t.co/kkxojNAvcS?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Deidre Matthews (@ddmatthews) [December 29, 2018](https://twitter.com/ddmatthews/status/1078837547135131648?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) We can assume that Islanders lineup is subject to change. --- John Tavares in his last moment on the New York Islanders, doing what he does: