Toronto Maple Leafs vs Dallas Stars Game 35 Preview: Lineups, Goaltenders, & Best Bets

Game 35 comes with a dark, gloomy cloud over the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a “piss poor” showing in Nashville, the Leafs roll into Dallas on a back-to-back looking completely lost — and it genuinely feels like this could be Craig Berube’s last game behind the bench. Tonight we break down everything from the lineup chaos, Berube’s postgame comments, and the lack of a morning skate, to which forwards actually deserve to stay in the lineup.

We dig into Auston Matthews, Easton Cowan, and why Matias Maccelli must remain in the top six; the state of Matthew Knies as he battles a lower-body injury; why Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, and Nick Robertson should be leaned on; how Bobby McMann and Calle Järnkrok fit; and whether Max Domi has earned his way back in.

Plus: a full look at the defensive mess — Morgan Rielly’s brutal night, Philippe Myers’ struggles, Benoit vs. Thrun, and why Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson remain the bright spots. We also break down goaltending (Woll vs. Hildeby), and the Bet365 best bets for Leafs–Stars.

Chapters:
00:00 – Gloomy tone entering Game 35
00:28 – Leafs stumble into Dallas after awful loss
00:54 – Why no morning skate complicates everything
01:19 – Berube hints at lineup changes
02:20 – Reviewing last night’s lines via Daily Faceoff
02:40 – Matthews–Knies–Cowan: what works, what doesn’t
03:03 – Why Maccelli must stay in the lineup
03:42 – Knies’ lower-body injury insight
04:37 – Why Cowan belongs back with Tavares & Nylander
05:49 – Robertson, Joshua, McMann & identity issues
06:56 – Fourth-line confusion: Laughton, Järnkrok, Domi
07:35 – Should Max Domi return?
08:29 – Who actually deserves to come out
09:02 – Defensive pairings breakdown
09:20 – Why Philippe Myers shouldn’t play
09:40 – McCabe–Stetcher and OEL–Benoit evaluations
10:01 – Morgan Rielly’s rough night & defensive trend
11:11 – Goaltending: Woll vs. Hildeby
11:29 – Best Bet: Stars puck line
13:15 – Why Dallas should roll Toronto
15:08 – Robertson goal pick logic
15:45 – McCabe block-shots bet
17:05 – What’s next for the Leafs heading into the holidays

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