After a 2-1 win over the Bruins on home ice last night, the Leafs head to Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. Like the Bruins, the Hurricanes have had a hot start to the season. Unlike Toronto, the Canes didn’t play last night so they will come into tonight’s game more rested. The Leafs will look to build off a solid win last night and continue to build momentum through November.
Leafs Projected Lineup
Forwards
Kerfoot – Tavares – Nylander
Järnkrok – Engvall – Simmonds
Aston-Reese – Kämpf – Malgin
Defense
Brodie – Holl
Rielly – Liljegren
Giordano – Sandin
Goalies
Källgren
Petruzzelli
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
Forwards
Teravainen – Aho – Jarvis
Svechnikov – Kotkaniemi – Necas
Martinook – Staal – Fast
Noesen – Stastny – Stepan
Defense
Slavin – Burns
Skjei – Pesce
de Haan – Chatfield
Goalies
Andersen
Raanta
Three Things to Look Out For
Petruzzelli
After a knee injury to Samsonov, the Leafs signed and called up Keith Petruzzelli to the Leafs’ main roster. While he is not likely to play tonight, it is a remarkable story that is continuing to develop, and I imagine we might see him make his NHL debut this coming Friday or Saturday. He has started this season with the Marlies sitting at 6-0 with a .922 save percentage.
Leafs first line
Every game lately, the Leafs’ first line has been getting better, and with Matthews at five goals in his last five games, he is starting to build momentum. I think there is a chance that tonight we will see the classic Matthews and Marner chemistry we have grown to know and love.
Engvall may be at center.
The Leafs looked much better defensively last night, and while I’m sure Liljegren isn’t the only reason why, he still immediately helped the Leafs’ defensive depth. Look for the Leafs’ D core to continue to improve and start to carry the puck more efficiently and confidently.
The Leafs game tonight begins at 5:00 PM EST, and you can catch it on TSN4.
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