Four straight regulation losses to teams below them in the Eastern Conference standings, knocking them out of a wildcard spot, have the Maple Leafs at an all time low in the Randy Carlyle era. Here’s another team nearby in the East the Leafs need to be able to beat in the Devils, who are tied with the Maple Leafs with 47 points through 46 games. Like the Rangers and Islanders earlier in the week, the Devils are coming into the ACC in the second game of a back to back (beat the Panthers in OT last night).
Compounding the Leafs‘ issues, it sounds like a group of Leaf players are suffering from either the flu or food poisoning. Either a team dinner took place with some bad chicken present or the brown bottle flu has spread after a shaker at Phil and Tyler’s last night.
Jonathan Bernier is expected to start again for the Leafs. No word yet on whether Paul Ranger steps in or if the defence remains the same.
TML Lines
JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Raymond-Kadri-Lupul
Kulemin-McClement-Clarkson
D’Amigo-Ashton-Orr
Gunnarsson – Phaneuf
Gleason – Franson
Gardiner – Rielly
Bernier
IR: Bolland, Smith
NJD Lines
Zubrus – Zajac – Jagr
Clowe – Henrique – Ryder
Carter – Gionta – Bernier
Boucher – Sislo – Gelinas
Green – Fayne
Salvador – Volchenkov
Merrill – Zidlicky
Schneider
IR: Elias, Brunner, Larsson
