> ## 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. # Preview: Leafs at Oilers - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/preview-toronto-maple-leafs-edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-john-tavares-line-combos-gameday/ - Published: 2019-12-14T17:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2019-12-14T17:00:00.000Z - Description: Facing off with Connor McDavid and his band of merry men. - Author: taaeeve - Tags: Game Coverage, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 10:50 ### [Toronto Maple Leafs](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) at **Edmonton Oilers** Watch on: Hockey Night in Canada at 7PM Opponent’s site: [**The Copper and Blue**](https://www.coppernblue.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The time last I’d paid attention to the Oilers was at the beginning of the season when they were doing surprisingly good, considering they’re still, y’know, the Oilers. After checking out their recent games though I’m excited to share that the Oilers of yore appear to have made their grim return. The team has lost four of their last five games, and are currently on a three-game losing skid. As well, McDavid has played over 24 minutes in three of the Oilers’ last five games and Draisaitl is hitting similar numbers, playing over 23 minutes in three of the last five. They’re both having characteristically ridiculous seasons, which helps explain the high TOI, but is still a yikes from me. That said, keeping them in check is going to be one of the Leafs’ major challenges for the night – especially since we’re now without noted stifling-Connor-McDavid connoisseur Nazem Kadri. For the Leafs, the bottom six has shuffled considerably since Thursday’s collapse again the Calgary Flames. Trevor Moore’s status is still TBC, but based on his taking line rushes in practice yesterday, and Nic Petan being loaned back to the Marlies, it’s looking pretty likely that we’ll finally see him returning to the lineup tonight. Gauthier is also returning to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for four games straight, which is a bit of a surprise considering what Keefe had to say about him on Thursday. Spezza and [Aberg](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/157815/pontus-aberg?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com), on the other hand, will be sitting this one out. > Keefe on what Frederik Gauthier can do to get back in the [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) lineup: "There's not a lot that he can do frankly. He was playing fine before, we're just getting looks at different things, we're trying to see what the other possibilities might be for our group." > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [December 12, 2019](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1205215142260043776?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The top six and defensive pairings look to be staying the same. Words truly cannot express how much I do not want to spend another game watching Kapanen on the Matthews-Nylander line but I guess that’s what we’re going with, despite all evidence that points to this being a combination that does. not. work. Who knows though. Maybe they’ll suddenly, spontaneously, develop some chemistry and make me look completely foolish and overly pessimistic *(please)*. Bright side: Tavares and Marner have been killing it lately, and are definitely feeling themselves about it. > Marner on how well he and Tavares are playing now: "We've been good all year to be honest. Everyone just keeps talking about the start. No one cares about it anymore, it's done with, I'm over it, so is he. Our team needs to be better every night. We want to help our team win." > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [December 13, 2019](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1205351209734787072?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Go get ‘em, Mitch. Maple Leafs Lines *Based on yesterday’s lines at practice* Kasperi Kapanen - Auston Matthews - William Nylander Zach Hyman - John Tavares - [Mitch Marner](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/298190/mitchell-marner?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Pierre Engvall - Alexander Kerfoot - Ilya Mikheyev [Trevor Moore](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/283115/trevor-moore?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Frederik Gauthier - Jason Spezza Morgan Rielly - Tyson Barrie Travis Dermott - Cody Ceci Jake Muzzin - Justin Holl Frederik Andersen Michael Hutchinson Edmonton Oilers Lines *via* [*Jack Michaels*](https://twitter.com/EdmontonJack?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Leon Draisaitl - Connor McDavid - Zack Kassian Markus Granlund - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Alex Chiasson James Neal - Gaetan Haas - Sam Gagner Jujhar Khaira - Riley Sheahan - Josh Archibald Darnell Nurse - Ethan Bear Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson Kris Russell - Caleb Jones Mikko Koskinen [Mike Smith](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/295563/mike-smith?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)