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GDT: Leafs at Capitals 7:30 p.m., TV: Sportsnet Radio: AM 590

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crump

crump

~ ~ (ړײ) ~ ~
Feb 26, 2004
15,277
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Ontariariario
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 34-14-4
at WASHINGTON CAPITALS 28-17-9
Monday, 7:30 p.m., TV: Sportsnet Radio: AM 590

WHY WATCH?
Capital gains
The Maple Leafs and Capitals meet for the first of three meetings this season, and it’s Toronto’s first visit to the U.S. capital since Oct. 16, 2019. Just nine Leafs remain from that game, which ended with a 4-3 Caps victory. While the Leafs will look to get back on track defensively after letting their guard down in the third period against Detroit on Saturday, the Caps probably won’t remind themselves that they’re a mediocre 12-10-5 on home ice.

POINTS LEADERS
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
GP G A PTS +/-
Auston Matthews 49 37 31 68 +11
Mitch Marner 43 21 33 54 +17
William Nylander 52 20 28 48 -5

WASHINGTON CAPITALS
GP G A PTS +/-
Alex Ovechkin 52 32 31 63 +11
Evgeny Kuznetsov 51 15 35 50 +12
John Carlson 50 10 30 40 +11

SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play — TOR: 30% (1st), WSH: 16.1% (28th)
Penalty kill — TOR: 85% (4th), WSH: 79.6% (15th)

in goal:
FreshAir1_large.jpg



​


THREE THINGS ABOUT THE CAPITALS
1. Alex Ovechkin historically has been sharp against the Leafs, scoring 41 goals in 50 career games. Ovechkin, whose mind could be elsewhere considering Russia’s attack on Ukraine and his previous support of Vladimir Putin, has just three goals in his past 10 games.

2. The Caps have been a model of inconsistency for the past three months. Since a three-game winning streak ended on Nov. 30 with a loss to Carolina, Washington on four occasions has won two in a row, but not three. The Caps are a middling 3-5-0 in their past eight games, scoring a total of two goals losses against Philadelphia and the New York Rangers in their past two games.

3. Goaltending has been an issue in Washington, and the Caps are bound to be in the hunt for netminder before the NHL trade deadline on March 21. Ilya Samsonov carries a sub-par .904 save percentage and on Sunday, the Caps sent Vitek Vanecek to Hershey on a conditioning loan.
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Has Tom Wilson taken any silly runs at any of our players yet? No, not yet?

Tonight's the night

Surpringly he has been tamed and quiet this season
 
This guy Keefe just gonna keep trotting Tavares and Nylander out there on the same line...
 
Hoping the team is feeling a little better, they were pretty clearly feeling a little under the weather on Saturday. Hoping to see a bounce back game from the goalies.
 
Jozay said:
This guy Keefe just gonna keep trotting Tavares and Nylander out there on the same line...
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Yup and play Robertson for 10 min on the 4th line despite Dubas's comments

“Last year, with the taxi squad, it was up and down. It tends to stunt momentum. We want to see him continue to build momentum and take on a huge role with the PK and defensively while producing offensively. It will just be a matter of time until he forces our hand.”
– Kyle Dubas on Nick Robertson
 
At least it looks like Robertson will get another game… Wish he’d get a better look playing along side JT and Nylander or even the third line. I’m sure it’s tough to really make a difference playing 10 minutes a game with plugs like Spezza and Simmonds.
 
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leaffaninvancouver said:
I wouldn't mind some tweaks but they shouldn't touch the top line to do it.
Click to expand...
Yup I agree. You cannot touch that top line. They are single handedly winning us games right now.

I also think it is just a matter of time before Willy and JT get their shit together. We've doubted them in the past and they always proved us wrong. I have a feeling this will be no different.

Despite not playing our best we are still winning games at a decent pace. IMO we have been out of sync since the restart of the season. We still have a 15-6-2 record since January 1st, all while being completely disconnected defensively and receiving terrible goaltending.

IMO we are almost unstoppable when the Matthews line and JT lines are going at the same time. I really think we just have to ride this out with JT and Willy. As the numbers show, they are not preventing us from winning games, and we need them to get going as a duo. I am not sure separating the 2 will be beneficial personally.

Both of those guys are as committed to the game as anyone on the team. They routinely headline optional skates and are always working on their crafts. So it's not like they need a wakeup call IMO. They just need some bounces to go their way for a change and they'll start feeling better about themselves. They're gripping the sticks too tight right now. It's funny what a 3pt night will do for your game, its not a surprise how players tend to score in bunches.
 
Tuttle said:
Yup and play Robertson for 10 min on the 4th line despite Dubas's comments

“Last year, with the taxi squad, it was up and down. It tends to stunt momentum. We want to see him continue to build momentum and take on a huge role with the PK and defensively while producing offensively. It will just be a matter of time until he forces our hand.”
– Kyle Dubas on Nick Robertson
Click to expand...

If you don't want to mess with lines one and three, you'd have to put Kase on the fourth line. I'd like to see Roberston succeed but right now Kase should be playing over him in the lineup.
 
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leaffaninvancouver said:
If you don't want to mess with lines one and three, you'd have to put Kase on the fourth line. I'd like to see Roberston succeed but right now Kase should be playing over him in the lineup.
Click to expand...

I think they have to mess with lines 1 and 3 or we could be in the same situation as last year. Shut down the first line and we can't score
 
I know people would freak out but I'm okay with changing the first line. I'd be fine swapping Nylander and Marner.

Nylander/Tavares just isn't working. They've gotten easy assignments and still don't really outplay their opposition, it's killing us. Matthews and Kampf take all the top lines and defensive draws, Tavares should be feasting. He needs help, he needs Marner.

The thing about breaking up the first line is...you can put them back together, quickly. Bunting/Matthews/Marner aren't going to forget how to play together. And since we're basically guaranteed a playoff spot at this point, I think it's fine to experiment with different combinations at times. And having two great lines might be better than one elite line and one mediocre line.
 
TheDoldrums said:
I know people would freak out but I'm okay with changing the first line. I'd be fine swapping Nylander and Marner.

Nylander/Tavares just isn't working. They've gotten easy assignments and still don't really outplay their opposition, it's killing us. Matthews and Kampf take all the top lines and defensive draws, Tavares should be feasting. He needs help, he needs Marner.

The thing about breaking up the first line is...you can put them back together, quickly. Bunting/Matthews/Marner aren't going to forget how to play together. And since we're basically guaranteed a playoff spot at this point, I think it's fine to experiment with different combinations at times. And having two great lines might be better than one elite line and one mediocre line.
Click to expand...

You don't mess with what works.

The solution is bring in a new LW to play with Tavares and Nylander
 
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BertCorbeau said:
Feels like a loss night with a potential they get smacked around with how sketchy the goaltending has been.

Let’s hope the team defense shows up
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I have never thought in those terms of “ a loss night “
I know it happens , but I’m always positive and expect a win , no matter what , sports is awesome that way , and in our case , we are a fine fine hockey team and one of the best in the league , so I think it’s “ a win night “
GFLG
 
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