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# Penultimate Gameday: Leafs host the Stars
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/penultimate-gameday-leafs-host-the-stars/
- Published: 2026-04-13T17:37:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-13T17:37:35.000Z
- Description: The only good thing about this game is the chance to use the word penultimate.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: Game Coverage

### Dallas Stars @ Toronto Maple Leafs  
07:30 PM at Scotiabank Arena  
Watch on: Prime, Victory+

### 

The Leafs last game was at home on April 11 against the Florida Panthers, which Toronto lost by a score of 6-2 in regulation. The Leafs have a record of 32-34-14 for a 0.487 Points %.

The Dallas Stars last played at home on April 11 against the New York Rangers. The Stars won by a score of 2-0 in regulation, and their current league record is 48-20-12 for a 0.675 Points %.

As you know, the Leafs are now fifth last by points. To safeguard that spot they need to just lose. What fun!

The Kings are in the last wild card spot, but they are only one point ahead of Nashville. They have a game in hand, and need to win. Lucky them! The Kings play the Kraken tonight, while the Sharks play Nashville. 

### Them

Tyler Seguin is done for the season and playoffs, Radek Faksa was hurt at the Olympics and might be ready to play before the playoffs, he hasn't yet. Roope Hintz is in a similar situation. Miro Heiskanen has been shut down following an injury this week. 

Various lower-level players are somewhat hurt and have missed some time. A group of 18 skaters will play tonight, though. Cameron Hughes has been returned to the AHL, so some addition will happen to their last lineup. 

#### Lines

Last Game (2026-04-11) via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/dallas-stars/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Justin Hryckowian - Wyatt Johnston - Mikko Rantanen  
Jason Robertson - Matt Duchene - Mavrik Bourque  
Adam Erne - Arttu Hyry - Jamie Benn  
Cameron Hughes - Oskar Back - Colin Blackwell

Esa Lindell - Ilya Lyubushkin  
Thomas Harley - Tyler Myers  
Lian Bichsel - Alex Petrovic

Casey DeSmith - confirmed starter  
Jake Oettinger

### Us

The Leafs don't have many lineup options left, but they are taking the opportunity to give Ryan Tverberg his NHL debut. 

#### Lines

Mark Masters via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/toronto-maple-leafs/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Easton Cowan - John Tavares - William Nylander  
Matias Maccelli - Max Domi - Matthew Knies  
Steven Lorentz - Luke Haymes - Nicholas Robertson  
Ryan Tverberg - Jacob Quillan - Calle Järnkrok

Morgan Rielly - Troy Stecher  
Simon Benoit - Jake McCabe  
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - William Villeneuve

Artur Akhtyamov - presumed starter  
Joe Woll

### The Game

This is the last Prime game of the season. After two years of Prime, I can say I like their quality of filming and broadcast, but I don't think the commentary or panels are very good. Not that the other channels are massively better. I don't like the start time or the very long delay before puck drop. I think they're worse than Sportsnet for that. 

However, if Prime in Canada adopts the Prime Video Ultra system launched in the US, it will require additional payment to get a 4k broadcast. 

That's cheery, isn't it? 

Okay, here's how it is. I think any form of tanking is bad for the sport, bad for the fans of the team as fans and a bad way to go about the business of living. 

But it is simply the truth that a huge dose of bad luck on top of everything else the team has gone through has led them to this spot. Having that top five pick right now would be useful. 

It's hard not to be cheering for them to lose. 

My advice is to make sure you don't fall into the habit of always wanting the Leafs to lose, to prove they're inherently bad and cursed forevermore, so you can be angry about that. That pit has slippery sides, and it's a lot harder to climb out of it than it is to land on your ass in the darkness at the bottom of it.