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# Preview: Leafs vs. Senators
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-vs-ottawa-senators-game-preview-its-that-other-tkachuk/
- Published: 2021-04-10T16:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-10T16:15:00.000Z
- Description: One month to go until the playoffs are scheduled to begin.
- Author: Species
- Tags: Game Coverage, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:27

#### Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators  
7:00 p.m. E.T. on CBC, SNO, SNP, TVAS2  
SB Nation Opponent’s site: [Silver Seven Sens](https://www.silversevensens.com/2021/4/10/22376698/game-42-preview-and-open-thread-ottawa-senators-toronto-maple-leafs-sens-nhl?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The Maple Leafs host the Senators tonight for what will be a rather unremarkable game in the standings, but one notable on the NHL calendar. We’re now less than 48 hours to the NHL trade deadline and the Leafs are very much expected to make some kind of move before then and everyone is waiting for it, but first, they have to play out this game.

The last time the Leafs played the Senators was March 25\. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of the third period but Justin Holl won it in OT. Normally, Justin Holl scoring in OT would be a highlight reel moment, but that was overshadowed by the Senators’ GM Pierre Dorian having a meltdown in his arena suite and throwing his drink across the room.

> Pierre Dorion chucked his coffee LOL [pic.twitter.com/jbuFYtmfDD](https://t.co/jbuFYtmfDD?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 26, 2021](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1375263424368812033?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

I wonder if anyone has even cleaned up that mess yet? Maybe the Leafs can get him to do it again tonight!

This game is also exactly one month before the last scheduled game of the regular season for the Leafs on May 10th, which will coincidentally also be against the Senators, all though because of the Canucks’ situation, that schedule could still be changed.

Projected Leafs Lines  
*(no changes from previous game; source: Sheldon Keefe* [*via Lance Hornby*](https://twitter.com/sunhornby/status/1380898835027857416?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)*)*

**Forwards**  
Zach Hyman - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner  
Alex Galchenyuk - John Tavares - William Nylander Ilya Mikheyev  
Joe Thornton - Alex Kerfoot - Jason Spezza  
Alexander Barabanov - Pierre Engvall - Wayne Simmonds

**Defence**  
Morgan Rielly - T.J. Brodie  
Jake Muzzin - Justin Holl  
Travis Dermott - Zach Bogosian

**Goalies**  
Jack Campbell is the presumed starter  
Michael Hutchinson is the backup

Projected Senators Lines  
*(from morning skate source:* [*Senators Twitter*](https://twitter.com/Media%5FSens/status/1380905375709474818?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)*)*

**Forwards**  
Brady Tkachuk - Josh Norris - Nick Paul  
Tim Stutzle - Mike Amadio - Drake Batherson  
Alex Formenton - Chris Tierney - Evgenii Dadonov  
Ryan Dzingel - Clark Bishop - Connor Brown

**Defence**  
Thomas Chabot - Nikita Zaitsev  
Mike Reilly - Artem Zub  
Erik Brannstrom - Erik Gudbranson

**Goalies**  
Anton Forsberg is the presumed starter  
Marcus Hogberg is the backup

### The Game

I don’t have much to say about a late season first place vs. last place game, but, oh right, the Senators have another Tkachuk on their team, and he’s also actually good, so in a way this game is like playing the Flames who are also rapidly heading down the division standings.

The Senators have lost three straight games, and they look very comfortable in last place in the division right now, so it’s entirely possible the Leafs make this their sixth straight win, but then again, a nationally broadcast game against a last place team is totally one you can see leading to an embarrassing loss! You will recall in the last game it was ex-Leaf Connor Brown who scored first, which definitely sets a negative tone when it happens. Let’s go for a classic Auston Matthews wrister to open tonight’s game, like one of those four goals he scored against the Senators in his very first NHL game.

Let’s also hope Kyle Dubas gets to sip his coffee peacefully at the end of the game tonight, unless he’s using two phones at once to make trades. Don’t throw the phone at the wall, Kyle!

### The Leafs have got this, right?

| Easy as a slice of pie! What could go wrong? It’s the Senators.                                            | 52  |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| The Leafs playing the last place team? On a nationally broadcast game? On Hockey Night in Canada? Uh oh... | 144 |