VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
7:00PM - Scotiabank Arena
Broadcast/Streaming: NHL Live, NHL Network, TSN4, ATTSN-RM
Opponent SBNation Site: Knights on Ice
The Leafs showed their dominance on the road Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins shutting them out 5-0. It was a full 60-minute effort (for the most part), pucks went in the net, and the penalty kill did it’s job not allowing the Penguins to score on any of their five opportunities.
But that was PPG Paints Arena. The Leafs will be looking to improve on their 3-5-0 record at Scotiabank Arena, and hopefully score a goal earlier than in the final ten minutes of the third.
Vegas, on the other hand, hasn’t been as stellar away from the city that never sleeps. You could also say they haven’t as stellar a start the season after their Disney run last year to the Stanley Cup Final. Their last ten games has seen them go 4-4-2, with the Golden Knights rarely scoring more than three goals.
They did get four against the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators, but that’s not too much of an accomplishment in the grand scheme of things.
Given the Gerrard Gallant style, this game could go one of two ways: Either the Leafs run wild remembering their 6-3 loss to Vegas last New Year’s Eve, or Babcock tries to match styles making it a close one to two goal contest. Fingers crossed on the former.
Maple Leafs
Forward Lines
Zach Hyman - John Tavares - Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - Kasperi Kapanen
Andreas Johnsson - Par Lindholm - Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis - Frederik Gauthier - Josh Leivo
Defence Pairings
Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott - Igor Ozhiganov
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen / Garret Sparks
Golden Knights
Forward Lines
Jonathan Marchessault - William Karlsson - Rielly Smith
Max Pacioretty - Erik Haula - Alex Tuch
Tomas Nosek - Cody Eakin - Ryan Carpenter
Will Carrier - Pierre-Èdouard Bellemare - Ryan Reaves
Defence Pairings
Shea Theodore - Deryk Engelland
Brayden McNabb - Colin Miller
Nick Holden - Brand Hunt
Goaltenders
Marc-Andre Fleury / Malcom Subban
De Stats
| Maple Leafs | Team | Golden Knights |
|---|---|---|
| 48GF - 39GA - (+9) | Goal Differential | 33GF - 39GA - (-6) |
| 30.8% - 4th Overall | Power Play | 12.5% - 28th Overall |
| 82.5% - 6th Overall | Penalty Kill | 82% - 8th Overall |
| Auston Matthews - 10 | Most Goals | Jonathan Marchessault |
| Mitch Marner - 14 | Most Assists | Jonathan Marchessault / William Karlsson - 7 |
| Morgan Rielly - 18 | Most Points | Jonathan Marchessault - 13 |
| Igor Ozhiganov / Zach Hyman / Nazem Kadri - 8 | Most PMs | Jon Merill - 21 |
| Morgan Rielly - 22:27 | TOI Leader | Colin Miller - 21:45 |
| Frederik Andersen - .924 Sv% | Starting Goaltender | Marc-Andrew Fleury - .901 Sv% |
It was unclear as to whether Vegas will have Pacioretty in the lineup for tonight. Gallant said the 29-year-old will check with the medical staff after morning skate. Pacioretty has missed the last four games and it would be fitting to have his return be against the team he spent so much time facing over his 11-year career.
That said, he has 19 goals and 9 assists in 38 games vs the Leafs, and should be a name to look out for. Especially as the offence hasn’t gone his way yet.
The Leafs put on a strong performance in Pittsburgh and need to find a way to bring that level on home ice. A lack of Auston Matthews has nothing to do with it. John Tavares and Morgan Rielly stood up to the plate goal-wise and Mitch Marner is continuing down the path of league-wide domination.
As for the rest of the forward lines, a little bit of scoring depth never hurt anyone.
Confirmation of Vegas lines:
Golden Knights line rushes during morning skate at Scotiabank Arena:
— David Schoen 📰🗞🏒 (@DavidSchoenLVRJ) November 6, 2018
Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith
Pacioretty-Haula-Tuch
Nosek-Eakin-Carpenter with Hyka
Carrier-PEB-Reaves with Lindberg#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/ckc1JMFTXE
