Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Cue the Battle of Ontario Against the Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Cue the Battle of Ontario Against the Ottawa Senators
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.
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Toronto Maple Leafs (3-3-1) vs Ottawa Senators (4-1-0): 7:00 p.m Rogers Sportsnet Ontario
The Toronto Maple Leafs were shutout in their last game in Ottawa 1-0. However, James Reimer holds a 7-1 record against the Senators in Ottawa with a 1.12 GAA and a .971 sv%.
Leafs Injury Report
David Booth out with Broken Foot
Brandon Kozun out with a high ankle sprain
Projected Line Combinations (Leafs):
Projected Lines vs. NYI: van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Kessel. Lupul-Kadri-Winnik. Komarov-Santorelli-Clarkson. Panik-Holland.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) October 21, 2014
Leafs shuffle their pairs again to start tonight: Phaneuf-Robidas. Gardiner-Polak. Rielly-Franson. And Percy.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) October 21, 2014
Senators Injury Report
None
Projected Line Combinations(Senators)
Game Preview
Dec 7, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) scores against Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had many fierce battles with the Ottawa Senators over the years, and with every game the pressure to beat their rivals increases. The last time these teams played last year was during a tough time for the Leafs, losing 1-0 in what was supposed to be Reimer’s last start for Toronto.
Coming into this season, the Senators had to deal with their own drama, as former captain Jason Spezza requested a trade. Under new captain Erik Karlsson and star forward Bobby Ryan, the Senators have started the season 4-1, including a four-game winning streak entering tonight. The Leafs are coming off a win against the New York Islanders last night, but they will to be ready for another tough test against their divisional rival.
Both Toronto and Ottawa suffered from poor defensive play last season. So far, the Senators have cut down their goals against to start the season, allowing 10 goals through fiver games. (They allowed 16 goals in five games to start last season.)
It looks like Reimer will get the start in Ottawa, after Bernier got the win on Long Island. Reimer will look to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to Detroit, in a building that he knows all too well.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Oct 5, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) celebrates his goal in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Kessel career vs Ottawa: 46 GP- 25 goals- 21 assists- 46 PTS
Tyler Bozak career vs Ottawa: 23 GP- 9 goals- 10 assists- 19 PTS
Nazem Kadri career vs Ottawa: 11 GP- 8 goals- 5 assists- 13 PTS
James van Riemsdyk career vs Ottawa: 19 GP- 8 goals- 9 assists-17 PTS
James Reimer career vs Ottawa (in Ottawa): 8 GP- 7 wins- 1 loss- 1.12 GAA- .971 sv%
Ottawa Senators
Feb 1, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) gets past Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Erik Karlsson’s career vs Toronto: 19 GP- 2 goals- 8 assists- 10 PTS
Clarke MacArthur‘s career vs Toronto: 24 GP- 2 goals- 6 assists- 8 PTS (2 points in his last game against the Leafs), career points in Ottawa 57 GP- 20 goals- 19 assists- 39 PTS
Bobby Ryan’s career vs Toronto: 6 GP- 1 goals- 2 assists- 3 PTS
Craig Anderson‘s career vs Toronto: 16 GP- 7 wins- 6 loss- 2.70 GAA- .920 sv%
Keys to Victory for Toronto
Apr 12, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) steals the puck from Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
-Try to get to the Senators early. The Leafs have not scored the first goal of the game since playing the Colorado Avalanche. The Leafs are in the second game of a back-to-back, so it will be important to establish chances early and avoid having the Senators settle into the game.
-Take advantage of the fact Ottawa give’s up a lot of shots. The Senators have been out-shot in all five games this season, averaging 35.6 shots per game. However they are allowing 2.00 goals per game. The Leafs need to find a way to break through and make their shots count and hope that Ottawa gives them the chance to.
-Ottawa has done a good job this season of spreading out their offence. They are among the best in the league, with 14 goals coming from 10 different players. The Leafs will have to force the Senators bottom six forwards to play in their own end more in order to limit their scoring chances.
Dec 7, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) celebrates with defenseman Dion Phaneuf (3) for goal scored against the Ottawa Senators in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
-The powerplay has to get better for the Leafs. They went 0/4 against the Islanders, who do not have a great penalty kill unit ,and currently rank 16th in the NHL at 17.9%. The Leafs will have to use their speed to draw penalties to try to get some scoring chances from their defencemen and hope that their forwards can cash in on some chances in front of the net.
-Do not let Erik Karlsson get into the game offensively. He is a dynamic offensive player and if he gets his chances, he will make them count. He has a great pass and will join in on the play in the offensive zone. If the Leafs can put sustained pressure on Karlsson, it will make it hard for the Senators to get their offence going.
Oct 18, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf (3) blocks a shot as Detroit Red Wings center Gustav Nyquist (14) and right wing Daniel Winnik (26) fight for position with in front of Toronto goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) in the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
-The penalty kill will have to remain great – The Leafs held the Islanders to 1/6 on the powerplay and the Senators powerplay is ranked 21st in the league at 13.6%. The Leafs have to play more disciplined, because there is only so much the penalty kill can do. You do not want Phil Kessel sitting on the bench because you are in penalty trouble.
Oct 14, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) skates with the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Stuart (17) defends at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
-Speaking of Phil Kessel, he will have to be great again if the Leafs want to come out on top. Toronto are 3-0 when Kessel gets a point, which puts a lot of pressure on him to produce. Nazem Kadri has been too quiet, so hopefully he can pick up the slack if Kessel has an off night.
Given their record against Ottawa the past few years, the Leafs should beat the Senators. However the Senators are deeper upfront this season, so it will be up to the depth player on the Leafs to shut them down. If Ottawa cannot stop the top line like the Islanders were unable to do, then it should be a good night for Toronto in the Nation’s Capital.