New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs

Time: 7:00PM

Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, North America, Earth, far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy

Broadcast/Streaming: TSN4, TVA Sports, NHL Live

Opponent SBNation Site: Something about Lou?

I know I was controversial in the dek up there, but I’m sorry. Is it really a Hockey Hall of Fame class without any former Maple Leafs?

2017: Dave Andreychuk
2016: Eric Lindros, Pat Quinn
2015: Phil Housley
2014: Pat Burns
2013: Brendan Shanahan (it counts retroactively)
2012: Mats Sundin
2011: Joe Nieuwendyk, Doug Gilmour, Ed Belfour

This year? No Leafs. This is offensive.

Speaking of offensive, the Maple Leafs host the New Jersey Devils tonight, who LOST 7-3 to the Ottawa Senators. The Sens were motivated after the Uber embarrassing video fiasco but man, you just shouldn’t lose to the Senators. What kind of loser team would do that?

In their past five the Devils have lost to the Lightning 8-3, the Red Wings 4-3, Shut out the Islanders 3-0, beat the Penguins 5-1, and had the unfortunate Senators loss.

What a weird combo of wins and losses, eh?

The Maple Leafs on the other hand beat the Jets* 3-2, lost to the Flames 3-1, lost to the Stars 2-1, then shut out the Penguins 5-0, and beat the Golden Knights 3-1.

Both of these teams scored five goals against the Penguins. So of course tonight will probably end up 1-0 in a shootout.

Maple Leafs

Forward Lines

Zach Hyman - John Tavares - Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri- Kasperi Kapanen
Andreas Johnsson - Par Lindholm - Connor Brown
Josh Leivo - Frederik Gauthier - Tyler Ennis

Defence Pairings

Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott - Igor Ozhiganov

Goaltenders

Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks

Andersen is the confirmed starter.

New Jersey Devils

Forward Lines

Taylor Hall - Nico Hischier - Kyle Palmieri
Marcus Johansson - Brett Seney - Jesper Bratt
Blake Coleman - Travis Zajac - Joey Anderson
Brian Boyle - Jean-Sebastien Dea - Miles Wood

Defence Pairings

Mirco Mueller - Sami Vatanen
Andy Greene - Damon Severson
Will Butcher - Ben Lovejoy

Goaltenders

Cory Schneider
Keith Kinkaid


Leafs vs Bruins

Maple LeafsTeamBruins
20-8-0-1Record14-10-0-4
106GF - 78GA - +28Goal Differential72GF - 72GA
26.7% - 6thPower Play27% - 4th
80.3% - 15thPenalty Kill77% - 24th
John Tavares - 18Most GoalsDavid Pastrnak - 20
Mitch Marner - 34Most AssistsKrejci / Marchand / Bergeron - 17
Mitch Marner - 40Most PointsDavid Pastrnak - 32
Hyman / Kadri - 16Most PMBrad Marchand - 72
Morgan Rielly - 22:18/GTOI LeaderTorey Krug - 22:35
Frederik Andersen - .931sv%Starting GoalieJaroslav Halak - .932sv%

On the surface you would expect the Leafs to beat the Devils. They have a +11 goal differential, the Devils are -1. The Leafs are second in their division, the Devils are last. Both teams however do have a depth scoring issue; relying on their top lines to do most of the work in the offensive zone.

Don’t take the Devils lightly tonight Leafs. You have Boston tomorrow night, and that’s the more important game, but a casual game tonight will get you burned.