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After snapping a three-game losing streak on Saturday in Vancouver, the Toronto Maple Leafs will need to build on their strong performance tonight against the winningest home team in the League, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Last time out against the Hawks back in Toronto, the Maple Leafs held their own at even strength but battled the officials all night and were undone on the penalty kill by the deadly combination of Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin.

A lot has changed in the Leaf lineup since then (mostly for the worse), but the hope will be the Leafs can keep this one competitive. The Hawks are a mediocre 4-5-1 in their last ten, and will be without winger Marian Hossa, who was placed on injury reserve yesterday.

Paul Hendrick‘s projected lines have Brendan Leipsic sitting dependent on Nazem Kadri’s status.


Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines

Michael Grabner – Nazem Kadri* – Leo Komarov
Peter Holland – Mark Arcobello – PA Parenteau
Daniel Winnik – Nick Spaling – Brad Boyes
Colin Greening – Byron Froese – Rich Clune

Matt Hunwick – Morgan Rielly
Jake Gardiner – Roman Polak
Martin Marincin – Frank Corrado

James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier

*game time decision — if Kadri can’t go, expect Peter Holland to move to center on the top line.

Injured: Stephane Robidas (lower body), Joffrey Lupul (middle body), James Van Riemsdyk (foot fracture), Jared Cowen (hip tightness), Josh Leivo (upper body), Tyler Bozak (upper body), Shawn Matthias (upper body)
Scratched: Brendan Leipsic

Chicago Blackhawks Projected Lines

Andrew Shaw – Jonathan Toews – Richard Panik
Artemi Panarin – Artem Anisimov – Patrick Kane
Andrew Desjardins – Phillip Danault – Teuvo Teravainen
Brandon Mashinter – Dennis Rasmussen – Vincent Hinostroza

Duncan Keith – Niklas Hjalmarsson
Trevor Van Riemsdyk – Brent Seabrook
Viktor Svedberg – Michal Rozsival

Scott Darling
Corey Crawford

Injured: Marcus Kruger (left wrist), Marian Hossa (lower body)
Scratched: Rob Scuderi, Erik Gustafsson, Jiri Sekac

 


Mike Babcock Game Day

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