GDT: Maple Leafs (15-8-1) vs Capitals (13-10-1) | 7:00 PM EST | Hockey Night In Canada!

[MapleLeafs9]

My 1st HNIC GDT. Saturday night games are sacred to me so I'll make this thread better than my usual GDT's.

Toronto Maple Leafs (15-8-1) vs Washington Capitals (13-10-1)
Air Canada Centre
7:00 PM EST
TV: CBC
Radio: TSN1050

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals meet for the 2nd time this season after an incredible 6 game playoff series last spring. The Maple Leafs were the winners of a 2-0 game on October 17th. The Maple Leafs are coming off a 5-4 win to Carolina while the Capitals are also coming off their own 3-1 win over Tampa Bay. Matt Martin is expected to draw back into the lineup for either Josh Leivo or Nikita Soshnikov, and Curtis McElhinney is expected to start.

Starting Goalies

Curtis McElhinney
2-1-0
3.05 GAA
.910 Sv%
0 SO

Braden Holtby
12-5-0
2.62 GAA
.920 Sv%
0 SO

Maple Leafs Lineup

Forwards
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Marner
Marleau - Kadri - Komarov
Martin - Moore - Brown

Defence
Rielly - Hainsey
Gardiner - Zaitsev
Borgman - Polak

Goalies
McElhinney
Andersen

Scratches/Injuries
Soshnikov (healthy scratch)
Leivo (healthy scratch)
Carrick (healthy scratch)


Capitals Lineup

Forwards
Ovechkin - Backstrom - Wilson
Vrana - Kuznetsov - Oshie
Connolly - Eller - Smith-Pelly
Stephenson - Beagle - Chiasson

Defence
Orlov - Niskanen
Orpik - Carlson
Chorney - Bowey

Goalies
Holtby
Grubauer


GO LEAFS GO!​

Click to read more...

 

[weems]

Hope the Leafs come out hard in this one.
Washington will want to avenge that earlier loss to us.
If we skate and work, our depth should shine thru in a game like this.

 

[Thread The Needle]

Kick some ass!

 

[SprDaVE]

Not expecting much out of this one.

 

[SniperOnTheWing]

Bad feeling about this one boys. Caps are starting to find offense again and are coming off a big win over Tampa, McBackup is in, and Ovie historically has racked up a truckload of points against us.

Matthews needs to go beast mode and the Nylander breakout that we (and Babs) have all been waiting for needs to happen tonight. Otherwise I think we get trounced.

 

[Revolt]

It'd be nice if we dominated the other team to start the game. Let's hope that starts again tonight.

 

[PuckMagi]

 

[member 262271]

Tough to imagine a scenario where this game goes smoothly. Last night really drained me of optimism.

 

[Randy Randerson]

wondering if the Babcock response to the question about Leivo with "we'll have some fresh forwards in the lineup tomorrow" will mean that Leivo and Sosh are out for Martin and Moore.

If only one of those guys comes out, I'd like to see Leivo stay on the Kadri line. That was a combo for a couple of shifts last night and I thought it was the best couple of shifts for all the guys on it...not dominant but at least maintained some forward zone control.

also looking forward to having the team play on good ice again. That seemed like a real issue for the last couple of games, we can't control an unfrozen puck

 

[Drytoast]

Looking for a big game from our big three.

Time to split up Marner and Matthews.

 

[Budsfan]

Game Day: Capitals at Maple Leafs
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan

Game Day: Capitals at Maple Leafs

WASHINGTON CAPITALS at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Saturday, 7 p.m., Air Canada Centre
TV: CBC, Radio: 1050 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
Auston Matthews vs. Alex Ovechkin
Two of the premier players in the NHL will share the same ice surface in Toronto for the first time since the 2017 playoffs, when the Capitals eliminated the Maple Leafs in six games in the first round. Entering play Friday, Ovechkin was third in the NHL with 14 goals, while Matthews was right behind him with 12 goals. Both have the talent to do something special on each shift, and each should have a significant impact.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
Back to back
Mike Babcock doesn’t like it when the Maple Leafs have a road game and play at home the next night against a rested club. The Leafs coach won’t have to worry about that, as the Capitals played at home against Tampa Bay on Friday. Neither club will be rested, but the one that can pace itself likely wins. Washington is one of several NHL teams that hasn’t lost in regulation when ahead after the first period.
McElhinney magic
The expectation was that Curtis McElhinney would be making his fourth start of the season and first since Nov. 11. The 34-year-old veteran will have to be on point against Alex Ovechkin and pals, and will be looking to improve on a career record of 1-3-0 against the Caps with a .863 save percentage and a 4.23 goals-against average. McElhinney should be dialled in, given his starts are rare.
Bear down
One of the Leafs’ two shutouts this season (prior to Friday) came on Oct. 17, when Frederik Andersen made 30 saves in a 2-0 Toronto victory in Washington. The Leafs and Capitals seemingly only play tight games against each other, including the playoff series last spring, and Saturday night is bound to be no different, never mind the offensive prowess both sides will bring.
Holtby hot
It’s probable the Leafs will face Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, as Philipp Grubauer played against Tampa Bay on Friday. Holtby has enjoyed facing the Leafs during his NHL career, compiling a record of 6-3-1 with a .934 save percentage and a 2.05 goals-against average in 11 games, not including the post-season. Lots of action in front of the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Holtby will be required.
Target shooting
The Capitals went into action on Friday averaging 29.1 shots on goal a game, more than only the Winnipeg Jets, who were last overall, and were not a great possession team, coming in at 48%. The Leafs, meanwhile, led the NHL with a 10.07% shooting percentage, the only club above 10%, and were just over 50% in possession at five-on-five play. Those factors could tip the balance for Toronto.

 

[Liferleafer]

Looking for a big game from our big three.

Time to split up Marner and Matthews.

Lol....20 games of fans screaming for them to be together....2 games and it's split them up??

 

[Nithoniniel]

Hoping for a better performance tonight. We're going to need it.

 

[PromisedLand]

McBackup spotted attending church for the first time in his life. On lookers said he was loudly pleading: "Lord, please fix that team defense, or make Babcock start Freddie"

In a similar news, Freddie was spotted in another church uttering the similar prayer

"Lord please fix the team defense, or make Jesus play goal; he is the only one capable of 'saving'. Your friend, Freddie"

 

[Drytoast]

Lol....20 games of fans screaming for them to be together....2 games and it's split them up??

Yeah you can just tell that its not as good a fit as willie based off of what both bring to the table. Ive seen enough.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[MapleLeafs9]

Yeah you can just tell that its not as good a fit as willie based off of what both bring to the table. Ive seen enough.

Maybe its not Marner but more so Hyman? I'd love to see Marleau - Matthews - Marner.

 

[AppsSyl]

Looking for a big game from our big three.

Time to split up Marner and Matthews.

After 1 quiet game? They have looked good in every other outing and are still building chemistry.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[Nithoniniel]

I thought Marner and Matthews looked quite good last night. Matthews is obviously still not completely healthy, so any comparison is unfair for that reason alone.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[MapleLeafs9]

Not opposed to this honestly. After the way we've played the last few games I'm hoping any changes will make this team start playing better before it snowballs out of control.

 

[Pi]

Not Roman Polak god damnit. If we're getting outshot right now, there is a whole new low level we will reach with Polak in the lineup.

 

[Pi]

I thought Marner and Matthews looked quite good last night. Matthews is obviously still not completely healthy, so any comparison is unfair for that reason alone.

Yeah I am not sure why people don't like Marner and Matthews together. They looked good to me but didn't get any points together.

 

[Drytoast]

I thought Marner and Matthews looked quite good last night. Matthews is obviously still not completely healthy, so any comparison is unfair for that reason alone.

Too many passes in deep for my liking.

“You take it”
“No you take it”
“No you take it”

Willie justs shoots it.