The Leafs play their first game of 2015 at the same time as Canada takes on Denmark. After a big win against the Boston Bruins, things took a turn for the worse with Joffrey Lupul being put on IR, Peter Holland going back to Toronto because of injury, and Nazem Kadri now being listed out too. Tyler Bozak had a death in the family and missed practices, but he is in for tonight.
The good news is that Minnesota has not had a strong start to the season and is actually sitting 11th in the 14 team Western Conference after a strong showing in the playoffs last year. They are, however, 9-4-4 at home but they have goaltending problems. Minnesota is fourth in the league in fenwick percentage, and 7th in corsi percentage, and seeing as they are at home, that is not a combination that meshes well with the Leafs and their style.
How Randy Carlyle handles the sudden bullet shot to their center position remains to be seen, but the Leafs have recalled Greg McKegg and he is expected to play tonight. He has 15 points in 23 games with the Marlies, and was traded for by one of the Leafs new hires Mark Hunter.
Stephane Robidas is also a healthy scratch for the night meaning the Leafs stay with Korbinian Holzer in. The Leafs do play tomorrow though, so this could be their attempt to keep him rested and healthy as much as anything else.
Projected Leafs Lines:
JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Winnik-Ashton
Panik-McKegg-Santorelli
Phaneuf-Franson
Gardiner-Holzer
Rielly-Polak
Bernier is starting.
Projected Wild Lines:
Parise-Koivu-Pomminville
Vanek-Brodziak-Fontaine
Niederreiter-Haula-Coyle
Graovac-Carter-Cooke
Suter-Brodin
Scandella-Spurgeon
Prosser-Bickell
Kuemper
Franson is wearing an ‘A’ with Lupul and Robidas out.
