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# Preview: Maple Leafs @ Chicago
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/preview-maple-leafs-chicago/
- Published: 2023-02-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-02-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Description: It’s a SEGABABA with travel to a bottom feeder. What could go wrong?
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:15

### Toronto Maple Leafs @ Chicago Blackhawks  
06:00 PM at United Center  
Watch on: ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, SNO

The Leafs last game was at home yesterday against the Montréal Canadiens, which Toronto won by a score of 5-1\. The Leafs have a record of 34-14-8 so far.

The Chicago Blackhawks last played an away game on February 17 against the Ottawa Senators. The Blackhawks won by a score of 4-3, and their current league record is 17-32-5.

### Them

They haven’t changed since our last meeting, so barring any trades this afternoon, they are still these guys:

#### Lines

Ben Pope via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/chicago-blackhawks/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Philipp Kurashev - Max Domi - Patrick Kane  
Tyler Johnson - Cole Guttman - Taylor Raddysh  
Jason Dickinson - Sam Lafferty - Andreas Athanasiou  
Boris Katchouk - Reese Johnson - Colin Blackwell

Jake McCabe - Seth Jones  
Jack Johnson - Connor Murphy  
Caleb Jones - Ian Mitchell

Petr Mrazek  
Jaxson Stauber

### Us

Assuming the Leafs just go with the configuration from last night, John Tavares moves to the wing, and Alex Kerfoot drifts down to the fourth line. I don’t absolutely think these lines are perfect, but they make sense to start to ease in the new players.

I think there’s too few shots available from the second line, but the third line should function well against most NHL lines. I don’t buy them matched against a top contender’s top line though.

The status of Ilya Samsonov (illness) isn’t clear, but there’s not many arguments for hurrying him into the lineup instead of just playing Erik Källgren.

#### Lines

Michael Bunting - Auston Matthews - William Nylander  
John Tavares - Ryan O’Reilly - Mitch Marner  
Pierre Engvall - David Kämpf - Calle Järnkrok  
Zach Aston-Reese - Noel Acciari - Alex Kerfoot

Morgan Rielly - TJ Brodie  
Mark Giordano - Timothy Liljegren  
Rasmus Sandin - Justin Holl

Erik Källgren  
Joe Woll

### The Game

Chicago is likely to be less horrible at home than they were on the road in Toronto. At some point they have to impress upon Patrick Kane — who was backing out of plays to avoid hits and generally looked disinterested in Toronto — that he has to play for real if he thinks he wants a trade.

The much-touted Jake McCabe also looked like he was new to hockey in that game, and he’s going to want to make a better impression.

This is a game the Leafs can choose to press hard to win or just let get away from them and blame the back-to-back, the jet lagged new guys and the goalie.

NOTE THE START TIME

And Go LEAFS Go.