The Leafs face off against the Kings tonight as they look to continue their November momentum into December. Coming off of a solid 4-0 win against the Stars, the Leafs look to net another win and continue solidifying their standing position in the Atlantic division.
Leafs Projected Lineup
Forwards
Bunting – Matthews – Nylander
Robertson – Tavares – Marner
Kerfoot – Kämpf – Engvall
Aston-Reese – Holmberg – Malgin
Defense
Giordano – Holl
Sandin – Liljegren
Brodie – Timmins
Goalies
Samsonov
Murray
Kings Projected Lineup
Forwards
Fiala – Kopitar – Kaliyev
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Iafallo – Vilardi – Kempe
Anderson-Dolan – Lizotte – Grundstrom
Defense
Anderson – Doughty
Durzi – Roy
Edler – Walker
Goalies
Copley
Quick
3 Things to Look Out For
1. Brodie
After suffering an oblique injury on November 11th, Brodie will be returning to the lineup. This couldn’t come at a better time, as Mete was injured in the last game, leaving Sandin and Giordano as the only healthy left-handed defensemen on the Leafs’ roster. Who would have thought that the left side would be where we would be low on players when the season started? This season the Leafs have had five left-handed defensemen miss time with injuries, with Rielly, Benn, Brodie, Mete, and Muzzin all missing time. Brodie being back in the lineup will help to also relieve some pressure off of Giordano, who has been eating up a lot of minutes since Brodie was injured.
2. Malgin
So far this season, Malgin has been up and down. He has had flashes where he looked solid and others where he wasn’t noticeable. Due to that, Malgin spent some time in the press box as a healthy scratch, but tonight he draws into the lineup for the first time since November 28th. Keep an eye on him tonight as he looks to make an impact and tries to stay in the lineup.
3. Durzi
I usually don’t talk about the other team, but as Durzi used to be a Leafs’ prospect(part of the Muzzin trade), I thought tonight would be fitting to talk about him. Durzi dreamed of playing at Scotiabank Arena as a kid, although I’m sure he imagined wearing a Leafs jersey. Durzi has been playing well for the Kings and has become a key part of their lineup. Durzi mentioned that he bought over 200 tickets for friends and family to attend tonight’s game. Keep an eye on him tonight, as he will likely have an extra step to his game with so many friends and family in attendance.
Samsonov gets the nod tonight as the Leafs take on the Kings at 7:00 pm EST on TSN.
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