Not much left to say at this point.
We’ve got quotes like this surfacing:
From @TFP: pic.twitter.com/Ob7YXW55wv
— Alec Brownscombe (@MapleLeafsHS) February 12, 2015
Which, while anonymous, do match those of late last season.
The Leafs clearly sense the end is near, who doesn’t, and so far knowing the season is over and the team is soon to be dismantled hasn’t seen them loosen up and play better hockey; it’s seen some of their best players check out entirely. Not a bad thing for the ubiquitous pro-tank faction of the fanbase, but it’s been the toughest stretch of Leafs hockey to watch, arguably ever and certainly for those born after the 80s.
Phil Kessel spent good chunks of last game on the fourth line and practiced there yesterday, so we’ll have to see if Horachek gives him a chance to respond of the bat or if he has to earn his way back up the lineup.
David Clarkson will re-enter the lineup after a pair of consecutive healthy scratches; he’ll take Joffrey Lupul’s place, who got hurt in Tuesday’s game we all know the drill.
Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines
James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel
Leo Komarov – Peter Holland – David Clarkson
Daniel Winnik – Nazem Kadri – Mike Santorelli
David Booth – Trevor Smith – Richard Panik
Morgan Rielly – Roman Polak
Korbinian Holzer – Stephane Robidas
Jake Gardiner – Cody Franson
Jonathan Bernier
James Reimer
Scratched: Petter Granberg
Injured: Dion Phaneuf (hand), Joffrey Lupul (lower body)
New York Islanders Projected Lines
Anders Lee – John Tavares – Josh Bailey
Mikhail Grabovski – Frans Nielsen – Ryan Strome
Cal Clutterbuck – Brock Nelson – Nikolay Kulemin
Matt Martin – Casey Cizikas – Colin McDonald
Lubomir Visnovsky – Travis Hamonic
Nick Leddy – Johnny Boychuk
Thomas Hickey – Brian Strait
Jaroslav Halak
Chad Johnson
Scratched: Matt Donovan
Injured: Calvin de Haan (facial cut), (upper body), Kyle Okposo (upper body), Michael Grabner (upper body), Eric Boulton (lower body)
Status update: Capuano said de Haan could have played, but didn’t want to change any of his defensive pairings. The Islanders returned forward Harry Zolnierczyk to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League to make room for Clutterbuck. … Lupul aggravated a knee injury Tuesday and will miss at least one week. (NHL.com)
Who’s hot: Hamonic has four assists in three games. … Grabovski has two goals in four games. … McDonald has goals in each game since being recalled from Bridgeport on Sunday. … Rielly has three goals in his past two games. (NHL.com)
