The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their Western Road Swing™ with the second half of a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Kings tonight (10 p.m., Sportsnet Ontario)
While scepticism still abounds among some of the hockey world — and rightfully so, due to the recent history of the team — don’t look now, but the Leafs have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference since November 1 — behind only Washington (21-5-3, .776) and Florida (19-8-2, .690). The Maple Leafs are also now 11-4-1 against teams from the Western Conference.
The Leafs are slicing up the biggest, heaviest possession teams in the league — and doing so with aplomb, with wins against the Stars (4-1), Stars (3-2), Preds (2-1), Blues (4-1), Kings (5-0), Blues (4-1) and the Ducks (4-0), to name a few. Controlling the balance of play, unlike seasons past, shows that the Leafs are building systems organization-wide and a style of play that is substantial and sustainable. While the pageantry and over-eagerness to knight Mike Babcock a saviour from the media and fans before the season started was, at times, nauseating, his impact on the psyche of the team, their attention to detail and how stiffly they’re playing defensively is impressive, to say the least. The team is likely to get worse personnel-wise, as they start to peel off veterans for operation “picks for Hunts”, but as they start to cycle in more new blood, there is an expectation of play and performance that hasn’t been seen in Toronto in, perhaps, decades.
Tonight, the Kings present another big challenge for the Leafs. Since they last met six games ago, the Kings are 5-1, as LA has ripped off five straight wins heading into tonight. The Leafs bucked an eight-game losing slump in the second games of back to backs with their win over Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve, but are 1-6-2 in such situations.
After a long layoff from injury, the NHL’s save percentage leader, James Reimer (.936%), will take over the net from the now-hot Jonathan Bernier. The Leafs will likely have to weather a storm in the first ten minutes from a Kings team that is the league’s best in possession – currently sitting at a 55.8% Corsi For percentage on the season. Since the two teams last met, the Kings are cooking along at a 56.9% CF, while the Leafs are just behind them and the Chicago Blackhawks with a 54.8% CF. Pretty good company for a roster in flux.
Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lineup
James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – PA Parenteau
Michael Grabner – Nazem Kadri – Leo Komarov
Daniel Winnik – Mark Arcobello – Joffrey Lupul
Shawn Matthias – Peter Holland – Brad Boyes
Jake Gardiner – Dion Phaneuf
Matt Hunwick – Morgan Rielly
Martin Marincin – Roman Polak
James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier
Injured: Stephane Robidas (lower body), Nick Spaling (upper body), Byron Froese (lower body)
Scratched: Antoine Bibeau, Frank Corrado
Los Angeles Kings Projected Lineup
Milan Lucic – Anze Kopitar – Tyler Toffoli
Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Marian Gaborik
Dwight King – Trevor Lewis – Dustin Brown
Michael Mersch – Andy Andreoff – Jordan Nolan
Brayden McNabb – Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin – Alec Martinez
Christian Ehrhoff – Jamie McBain
Jonathan Quick
Jhonas Enroth
Injured: Matt Greene (shoulder), Kyle Clifford (upper body)
Scratched: Vincent Lecavalier, Luke Schenn
Status report: Quick was the first goalie off the ice. … Clifford skated on his own … It is not known if Toronto will use its same lineup in the second game of a back-to-back.
Who’s hot: Kopitar has one goal and nine assists during a six-game point streak. … Van Riemsdyk has four goals and five assists during a seven-game point streak — the longest of his career.