> ## 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: Maple Leafs vs Vancouver Canucks - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/preview-toronto-maple-leafs-vs-vancouver-canucks-game-preview-lines-news-keefe-defense-matthews/ - Published: 2020-02-29T17:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2020-02-29T17:00:00.000Z - Description: To Liljegren or not to Liljegren, that is the question. - Author: taaeeve - Tags: Game Coverage, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:01 ### [Toronto Maple Leafs](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) vs **Vancouver Canucks**: 7:00 p.m. Watch on: CBC (Hockey Night in Canada) Opponent’s site: [Nucks Misconduct](https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Leafs face the Canucks for the second time this season, this time at home. It’s also another game in their Next Gen series. There’s no word yet on whether or not Keefe will be having a go at the 11 forwards, 7 defensemen set up again. It did work out for the team last time, technically, since they won Thursday’s game against the Panthers, but I would say that that had very little to do with the 11/7 set up as some sort of strategic decision. It did allow them to spread out minutes among the defense quite a bit (only Barrie at 24:01 and Marcincin, technically, at 20:01) spent more than 20 minutes on the ice. Liljegren ended up with 5:21 of ice time, and Rosen with 8:43\. Keefe stated after Thursday’s game that it was to allow them extra flexibility, and to see how the younger players would do in particular. If we’re following that logic it makes sense that they would call that experiment sorted and go back to six defensemen tonight. Unless Keefe has decided that his goal is to try and get as many former (or current) Marlies on the ice as possible in every game, I don’t think there’s any benefit to sticking to that structure long-term versus just returning to the standard six defensemen. With lines at morning skate including both a Rosen-Marincin and a Ceci-Liljegren pairing, it’s not yet clear who’ll be playing tonight, however. What I would really like to see the Leafs do again tonight that they did in Thursday’s game is not collapse in the face of adversity, and play a strong game right until the end. They’ve been doing a better job recently of not completely giving up in the third (please don’t take this as a challenge to prove me wrong). Kapanen has also significantly stepped up his game recently, and Matthews is started throwing his body around a bit more, both things that I’m very in favour of continuing. Andersen is also starting in net and aside from a... rough start on Thursday, he’s been looking a lot more solid in net of late. Campbell will probably draw in more next week as they head to California anyways. > Pump this Matthews Shift into my veins [pic.twitter.com/yF26vaajh4](https://t.co/yF26vaajh4?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Ah yes, the Leafs. (@LeafsAllDayy) [February 28, 2020](https://twitter.com/LeafsAllDayy/status/1233193987617513472?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Leafs and Canucks are both strong on the powerplay, sitting at 4th and 3rd in the league respectfully. However, the Canucks have a much better penalty kill, which is less ideal for the Leafs. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Leafs game if there wasn’t some sort of playoffs narrative – in this case, it’s that the Canucks are in danger of dropping into a wildcard spot. And we all know where the Leafs are sitting (also on the edge). Let’s help them on their way out. Maple Leafs Lines *Based on lines at* [*morning skate*](https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1233776655317053440?s=20&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Forwards [**Zach Hyman**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/111757/zach-hyman?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**Auston Matthews**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/282126/auston-matthews?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**Mitch Marner**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/298190/mitchell-marner?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [**William Nylander**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/246220/william-nylander?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**John Tavares**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/297386/john-tavares?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**Alexander Kerfoot**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/157853/alexander-kerfoot?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [**Pierre Engvall**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/246225/pierre-engvall?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**Jason Spezza**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/296508/jason-spezza?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**Kasperi Kapanen**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/246176/kasperi-kapanen?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [**Kyle Clifford**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/296523/kyle-clifford?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**Frederik Gauthier**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/198381/frederik-gauthier?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\- Denis Malgin** Defense [**Travis Dermott**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/257871/travis-dermott?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**Justin Holl**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/111600/justin-holl?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [**Rasmus Sandin**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/318665/rasmus-sandin?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\-** [**Tyson Barrie**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/295109/tyson-barrie?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [**Martin Marincin**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/318663/martin-marincin?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\- Calle Rosen** Goalies [**Frederik Andersen**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/297321/frederik-andersen?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **\- starter** [**Jack Campbell**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/296525/jack-campbell?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Canucks Lines *Via the* [*Daily Faceoff*](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Forwards **Tanner Pearson - Bo Horvat - Loui Eriksson** **J.T. Miller - Elias Pettersson - Tyler Toffoli** **Antoine Roussel - Adam Gaudette - Jake Virtanen** **Tyler Motte - Jay Beagle - Brandon Sutter** Defense **Alexander Edler - Troy Stecher** **Quinn Hughes -** [**Chris Tanev**](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/295631/christopher-tanev?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) **Oscar Fantenberg - Tyler Myers** Goalies **Thatcher Demko** **Louis Domingue** --- Everyone gets some beach time as the Leafs defenders slowly return to health: > Morgan Rielly (broken foot) and Jake Muzzin (broken hand) will also be on the California road trip, and skating. > > — Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) [February 29, 2020](https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1233788427176488961?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > Cody Ceci isn’t sure when he’ll be able to return for [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com), but does feel like he might be ahead of schedule: “It’s moving along pretty good. \[Morning skate\] was a nice step for me.” > > Next hurdle is taking contact in a full practice. > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [February 29, 2020](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1233785016523665414?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)