Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Draft Pick Battle with the Carolina Hurricanes

By David Morassutti

facebooktwitterreddit

Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Draft Pick Battle with the Carolina Hurricanes

We have all waited patiently and now it is time to drop the puck on a new season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Here at the Tip of the Tower we strive to give you as much content on your Toronto sports teams as humanly possible. This series will preview every single Toronto Maple Leafs game and what you should know for the game that night.

Jan 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Bellemore (73) helps defend the goal with goaltender Anton Khudobin (31) against Toronto Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk (21) during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Maple Leafs (23-30-5) @ Carolina Hurricanes (20-29-7) 7:00 p.m. Rogers Sportsnet.

The Leafs lost the last game against the Hurricanes 4-1.

More from Tip of the Tower

Leafs Injury Report

Trevor Smith is questionable with a lower-body injury

Joffrey Lupul is questionable with a knee injury

Dion Phaneuf is out with a hand injury

Projected Line Combinations (Leafs)

Hurricanes Injury Report

Ryan Murphy is out with a lower-body injury

Game Preview

Feb 17, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (16) crashes into Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier (45) as Maple Leafs defenceman Roman Polak (46) defends at the Air Canada Centre. Florida defeated Toronto 3-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

If there is one game that will have an impact on the draft lottery standings, it is tonight’s game between the Leafs and Hurricanes. Toronto is four points up on Carolina, who have two games in hand. If the Leafs lose, it puts them in position to land a better draft pick. Hopefully this matchup does not turn into a game of chicken, where neither team wants to win. The Leafs latest loss to the Florida Panthers came from a lack of urgency from a team that came off a spirited game against the Montreal Canadiens. Frustration is apparent with the younger members of the team, especially Peter Holland.

Jan 16, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Alexander Semin (28) checks the Vancouver Canucks forward Derek Dorsett (51) into the boards during the 2nd period at PNC Arena. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Hurricanes are a curious team, because with a dominant one-two punch with the Staal brothers they should be a more dominant team. However if Justin Faulk is your leading goal scorer with 35 points and you are spending over $7 million for Alexander Semin – who has been a healthy scratch frequently this season – then major changes need to be made for the Hurricanes. Semin’s contract would actually make him a contender for worst contract, along with David Clarkson. The Hurricanes will most likely let Cam Ward walk this summer, look to add some goal scoring and try to improve their defence, which puts them in a similar situation as Toronto.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Jan 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward

Phil Kessel

(81) shoots the puck as Carolina Hurricanes defenseman

Ron Hainsey

(65) defends during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Kessel career vs CAR: 32 GP – 7 goals – 8 assists – 15 PTS

James van Riemsdyk career vs CAR- 18 GP- 2 goals- 5 assists- 7PTS

Nazem Kadri career vs CAR: 10 GP – 3 goals – 2 assist – 5 PTS

Tyler Bozak career vs CAR: 18 GP – 2 goals – 8 assists – 10 PTS

Jonathan Bernier career vs CAR: 6 GP- Record:  2-4, 3.03 GAA- .912 SV% 

James Reimer career vs CAR: 9 GP- Record: 4-2-1 2.47 GAA- .919 SV% 

Carolina Hurricanes

Jan 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender

Jonathan Bernier

(45) makes a save on Carolina Hurricanes forward

Eric Staal

(12) during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Staal career vs TOR: 37 GP- 19 goals- 22 assists- 41 PTS

Jordan Staal career vs TOR: 26 GP- 11 goals- 11 assists- 22 PTS

Jeff Skinner career vs TOR: 13 GP- 4 goals- 9 assists- 13 PTS

Justin Faulk career vs TOR: 11 GP- 3 goals- 6 assists- 9 PTS

Cam Ward career vs TOR: 26 GP- Record: 15-9-2, 2.73 GAA- .910 SV%

Anton Khudobin career vs TOR: 4 GP- Record: 3-1, 1.90 GAA- .929 SV%

Keys to Victory

Feb 17, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders forward Anders Lee (27) celebrates his 1st period goal with forward John Tavares (91) against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Hurricanes had a tough time in their last game against the New York Islanders, because of the Islanders speed. If the Leafs can use their speed to create space for themselves they have a chance to get some good scoring chances.

The Leafs have scored the first goal in the past two games, but in both cases that lead was short lived. If the Leafs can get a lead, they need to find a way to keep the Hurricanes from getting an equalizer quickly.

Feb 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bozak (42) congratulates Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel (81) on a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Kessel and Bozak were able to find the back of the net against the Panthers. If they can find a way to build on that, then the Leafs may get more teams calling about their availability especially Bozak.

The Leafs defence is missing Phaneuf on the back end, but this is where Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly will have their chance to show management they can rise above the issues this team is going through. Gardiner did this last season, but he has not made much of an impact during this campaign at either end of the ice.

The Leafs have not had a lot of success in Carolina. However, f they did not pick up the win, it may go a long way in improving their chances to land a better draft pick, which makes losing at this point of the season not as painful.

Home/Toronto Maple Leafs