#CSP #NHL #LEAFSNATION
The Maple Leafs return from the 4 Nations break looking to halt a run of five straight losses to the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at Scotiabank Arena.
The Leafs‘ losing streak to the Hurricanes has a clear throughline: special teams. Toronto has outscored the Carolina 12-9 at five-on-five during this 0-4-1 stretch dating back to March 2023, but they’re 1-for-16 on the power play with a shorthanded goal against (i.e., net-zero on the man advantage) against the vaunted Canes PK, and just 11-for-17 on the penalty kill. Save for the last matchup in Carolina — when the Leafs built an early 2-0 lead and then fell apart — it’s resulted in the Leafs playing a lot of catch-up hockey, as they have been out-scored 7-2 in the first periods of those five games.
Special teams might be especially important if tonight’s game lacks fluidity at five-on-five, as most players — save for the eight 4 Nations participants — rediscover their rhythm and timing after a full two weeks off from game action.
Alex Steeves played four games in the AHL since the NHL schedule went on break and will start tonight’s game on the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and David Kampf. Steeves averaged just 11 minutes in his four appearances earlier this season — five shots, zero points — and the AHL’s leading goal scorer (29 in 40) is worthy of a little more opportunity if they’re going to give him an honest look this time around. He’s also been lethal from the right circle on the power play if they can find some opportunity for him on the second unit.
The Leafs left for the break running a Nylander-Tavares-Marner line that never panned out, and they moved away from it in the third period of their loss to Vancouver. Unsurprisingly, they’re coming out of the break with their more traditional top-six configuration, with Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner and Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander.
Anthony Stolarz will start in net coming out of the break, leaving Joseph Woll — who is winless in two games vs. Carolina — to take tomorrow’s start in Chicago.
Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines
Forwards
#23 Matthew Knies — #34 Auston Matthews — #16 Mitch Marner
#74 Bobby McMann — #91 John Tavares — #88 William Nylander
#11 Max Domi — #29 Pontus Holmberg — #89 Nick Robertson
#18 Steven Lorentz — #64 David Kampf — #46 Alex Steeves
Defensemen
#22 Jake McCabe — #8 Chris Tanev
#44 Morgan Rielly — #95 Oliver Ekman-Larsson
#2 Simon Benoit — #25 Conor Timmins
Goaltenders
Starter: #41 Anthony Stolarz
#60 Joseph Woll
Extras: Ryan Reaves, Philippe Myers
Injured: Max Pacioretty, Connor Dewar
Injured (LTIR): Calle Jarnkrok, Jani Hakanpää
Carolina Hurricanes Projected Lines
Forwards
#96 Mikko Rantanen — #20 Sebastian Aho — #24 Seth Jarvis
#71 Taylor Hall — #82 Jesperi Kotkaniemi — #53 Jackson Blake
#37 Andrei Svechnikov — #11 Jordan Staal — #48 Jordan Martinook
#50 Eric Robinson — #27 Tyson Jost* — #98 Jack Roslovic
Defensemen
#74 Jaccob Slavin — #8 Brent Burns
#7 Dmitry Orlov — #5 Jalen Chatfield
#4 Shane Gostisbehere — #26 Sean Walker
Goaltenders
Starter: #52 Pyotr Kochetkov
#31 Frederik Andersen
*game-time decision
Injured: Jesper Fast, William Carrier
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