Pre-Game Talk: Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs. Sat Feb 22nd, 2025, 7pm

[Evilhomer]

Maybe they are given the night off and they play on Sunday.

None of these guys need nights off. The game on Sunday won't be remotely close. The Leafs will roll over the Hawks on Sunday.

 

[thewave]

None of these guys need nights off. The game on Sunday won't be remotely close. The Leafs will roll over the Hawks on Sunday.

Exactly night off from what? Playing a harder game? They better get used to it and keep going if they want a deep run

 

[Leafs98]

Someone needs to start hot post restart why not us ?

 

[Leafs98]

Exactly night off from what? Playing a harder game? They better get used to it and keep going if they want a deep run

Exactly. Those were intense games but just 1 game in 5 days schedule wise. They'll suit up every 2 days in playoffs with, we hope, same intensity. No reason to get a night off unless Matthews injury comes up again tomorrow. I expect it might soon.

Remember they lost the last game they played..everyone needs wins here.

 

[Racer88]

None of these guys need nights off. The game on Sunday won't be remotely close. The Leafs will roll over the Hawks on Sunday.

I agree their responsibility is to their NHL teams. Time to get to work

 

[Macallan18]

It's not about necessarily being marginally better/worse... it's about being good enough that we don't have to make a trade for a C... so we can spend those assets on others needs/wants.

Like a serious upgrade on D so OEL can stabilize the third pairing?

 

[Leafsfan74]

This game is exactly five years to the day that Carolina beat the Leafs with David Ayres called to net in the most unusual emergency situation.

Coincidence? I've learned not to believe in coincidences. The NHL is trolling the Leafs.

 

[Leafs98]

This game is exactly five years to the day that Carolina beat the Leafs with David Ayres called to net in the most unusual emergency situation.

Coincidence? I've learned not to believe in coincidences. The NHL is trolling the Leafs.

Interesting. Lets see if they bring it up on the NHL Network broadcast tonight. Spoon feed all the new 4 nations hockey fans how a slightly different miracle on ice went down one day.

 

[shaner8989]

Stolarz tonight Woll tomorrow

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

This game is exactly five years to the day that Carolina beat the Leafs with David Ayres

My man, if that is true - that is the trolliest of troll jobs ever perpetrated... but hey - at least this league is transparent about it....? WTF

 

[crump]

Stolarz tonight Woll tomorrow

Almost forgot Stolarz is back. And with extra rest too.

 

[ACC1224]

Mark Masters: Leafs hope Marner's big moment for Canada is a sign of things to come | TSN

Mitch Marner came through for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. The Toronto Maple Leafs winger produced two primary assists against Team USA, including setting up the overtime winner by Connor McDavid.

www.tsn.ca

Despite the quick turnaround, Matthews and Marner are expected to reunite on Toronto's top line during Saturday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

"It is tough for me to say what they are feeling and how they feel," Berube said. "I texted both of them last night and congratulated both of them. We'll see tomorrow."

The Leafs played four games over 10 days on the road heading into the 4 Nations event so Matthews and Marner haven't spent much time at home lately.

The tournament only featured four games for Marner and three for Matthews, but these were not normal games. Thursday's championship showdown, in particular, seemed to take a lot out of everyone.

"There is a lot put into the game," Berube said. "Emotionally, it will be interesting to see. It is a mental grind to be in that environment shift after shift."

William Nylander played three games at the tournament with Team Sweden. The Leafs winger returned to practice on Friday.

"I think it will be not too bad," said the 28-year-old, who last played on Monday in Sweden's win over the United States. "At least I got a few days off. They're coming here to play tomorrow so that's a little bit tougher. We've been playing hockey the entire time so we're lucky that way. I mean, a lot of players in the league have been off."

 

[Leafsfan74]

My man, if that is true - that is the trolliest of troll jobs ever perpetrated... but hey - at least this league is transparent about it....? WTF

Start of NHL season: Oct 4th, 2024
Last day of regular season April 17th, 2025

Number of calendar days for possible games (I didn't exclude Four Nations): 195 calendar days in total total
3 games against Carolina

Odds of game being played on any specific day (February 22nd): 1.5%

Odds of game being played on any other day: 98.5%

Right on a round five year anniversary, in the same arena too, which is another 50/50 dart that hit which would decrease the odds in half to .75 of 1 percent.

Coincidence? Maybe...

 

[stats1]

Either going to be a 2-1 mush fest or a 6-5 barn burner with zero D. I’m going to lean on 2-1. Both teams are going to look super rusty

 

[Nineteen67]

Start of NHL season: Oct 4th, 2024
Last day of regular season April 17th, 2025

Number of calendar days for possible games (I didn't exclude Four Nations): 195 calendar days in total total
3 games against Carolina

Odds of game being played on any specific day (February 22nd): 1.5%

Odds of game being played on any other day: 98.5%

Right on a round five year anniversary, in the same arena too, which is another 50/50 dart that hit which would decrease the odds in half to .75 of 1 percent.

Coincidence? Maybe...

I could be wrong but its seems to me they cycle the schedule so teams play each other around the same dates year after year.

Either going to be a 2-1 mush fest or a 6-5 barn burner with zero D. I’m going to lean on 2-1. Both teams are going to look super rusty

For the first few minutes we will have to train our eyes to slow down, adjusting to level of play.

 

[thusk]

None of these guys need nights off. The game on Sunday won't be remotely close. The Leafs will roll over the Hawks on Sunday.

night off not necessairly but we certainly should expect soft weekend after a extremely high emotion game and it's also true for Slavin in the other side.

 

[rockymtnoyster]

 

[Evilhomer]

night off not necessairly but we certainly should expect soft weekend after a extremely high emotion game and it's also true for Slavin in the other side.

I think you'll see the opposite. Most of the rest of the league has been standing still for two weeks. I think Matthews and Marner will probably light up Carolina and Chicago this weekend because they will be much sharper.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

So glad Dewar is almost back.

 

[BTP]

gonna be an .. adjustment, to get excited for regular season hockey again . lol

 

[DitchMarner]

Glad NHL hockey is back, but I'm not too excited for a game against CAR.

CAR is a good team, but I find their style of play insufferable lol. And TOR sucks against teams that play that way.

CAR, NYI and OTT have to be the three teams I least like watching TOR play against. FLA and Minny (I guess) would round out the top five.

 

[DitchMarner]

Although we've played him mostly on the wing, most of his career has been at C. It will be interesting to see if they give him some rope to take the 3C position, negating a need to make a trade for that spot.

I'm glad he's coming back because I am sick of Holmberg in the top nine, but this is a guy who has missed the entire season and has been quite poor in the playoffs in his career.

I'll gladly take him in the bottom six, but should TOR really go into the playoffs relying on Jankrok to be their third line C?

 

[Leafsfan74]

Glad NHL hockey is back, but I'm not too excited for a game against CAR.

CAR is a good team, but I find their style of play insufferable lol. And TOR sucks against teams that play that way.

CAR, NYI and OTT have to be the three teams I least like watching TOR play against. FLA and Minny (I guess) would round out the top five.

Maybe there will be a surprise guest in goal tonight for Carolina, or, just in the stands.

 

[DitchMarner]

This game is exactly five years to the day that Carolina beat the Leafs with David Ayres called to net in the most unusual emergency situation.

Coincidence? I've learned not to believe in coincidences. The NHL is trolling the Leafs.

TOR's effort in that game after the goaltending change was so pathetic.

From what I remember, they had about nine shots and not many dangerous ones. The Canes did their thing and basically owned the puck and gave TOR very few opportunities to do damage in the attacking zone. Ayres deserves credit for stepping in and making some saves, but the loss was more about CAR totally outcompeting TOR than anything he did.

The Hurricanes are the type of team that TOR struggles against stylistically. They work and skate and make you fight for every inch of ice. TOR isn't always up for the grind.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Canes are a team I get a little extra satisfaction from beating. Probably because they make you earn it.

A 4 point weekend would look good in the standings.