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Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Looking For Some Brotherly Love Against the Philadelphia Flyers

By David Morassutti

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Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Looking For Some Brotherly Love Against the Philadelphia Flyers

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.

Dec 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson (4) hits Philadelphia Flyers center Brayden Schenn (10) at Air Canada Centre. The Flyers beat the Maple Leafs 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Maple Leafs (22-24-4) @ Philadelphia Flyers (21-22-7)  7:00 p.m. CBC

Leafs lost their last game against the Flyers 7-4.

More from Tip of the Tower

Leafs Injury Report

Dion Phaneuf out with a hand injury

Projected Line Combinations (Leafs)

Flyers Injury Report

Kimmo Timonen out with blood clots

Braydon Coburn out with a lower-body injury

Nicklas Grossmann out with an upper-body injury

Scott Laughton out with an upper-body injury

Line Combinations (Flyers)

Game Preview

Jan 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Cody Franson (4) turns up ice against the Washington Capitals at the Air Canada Centre. Washington defeated Toronto 6-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Right now there is no way to predict what the Leafs are going to do from now until the end of the season. One thing that the players have not talked about in post-game interviews are the typical clichés about trying to regroup and push for the playoffs. When a team does not get the results after a coaching change the players must be getting nervous about their futures. Players like Cody Franson, Joffrey Lupul, Daniel Winnik, Mike Santorelli and Dion Phaneuf have been the most talked about players in trade rumours which are going to ramp up next month.

Jan 29, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith (41) makes a save as defenseman Connor Murphy (5) defends against Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson (71) at the Air Canada Centre. Arizona defeated Toronto 3-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Against the Arizona Coyotes the Leafs actually got worse as the game got along, as good as Jonathan Bernier was in that game the two goals he allowed to start the third period cannot go in. The team has been in a fragile state the last eight game, they were heading into the third period needing their goalie to make crucial saves for them with Arizona starting to gain momentum. What the Leafs still lack is consistent pressure at both ends of the ice, sure they have allowed less shots but why is the offence been so bad? It is because the Leafs do not have that enough player that is capable of being a dominant threat at both ends of the ice.

Dec 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) chases the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

This is something that the Flyers get from players like Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier. The last time these two teams played against each other the Leafs were unable to match up with the Flyers talented offence. It was back and forth offence which is a recipe for disaster when a team face the Flyers. Giroux and Voracek both finished the game with four points each which solidified a glaring need the Leafs have for a number one center. Nazem Kadri is no Giroux and it was apparent in that game. Even Luke Schenn is starting to pick up his game, which is something the Leafs could use right now, but James van Riemsdyk is also leading the Leafs in goals so there are no complaints there.

Even though Dave Nonis is still the GM his days in Toronto look to be numbered with the core players on the Leafs struggling to lead this team. There is only so much that Brendan Shanahan could do to make the team better with the mess that he has inherited. It is unlikely that Nonis will get the boot before the trade deadline leaving the offseason as the best time to make the change.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Mar 8, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van RIemsdyk (21) passes the puck as Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) bears down on him at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Flyers 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Kessel career vs PHI: 29 GP – 4 goals – 10 assists – 14 PTS

Nazem Kadri career vs PHI: 9 GP – 1 goals – 4 assists – 5 PTS

Joffrey Lupul career vs PHI: 11 GP – 4 goals – 8 assists – 10 PTS

James van Riemsdyk career vs PHI: 7 GP- 4 goals-0 assists- 3 PTS

Jonathan Bernier career vs PHI: 5 GP- Record:  2-3 4.78 GAA- .865 SV% 

James Reimer career vs PHI: 6 GP- Record: 2-3, 3.11 GAA- .904 SV% 

Philadelphia Flyers

Dec 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) reacts after swatting at a bouncing puck and missing against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Claude Giroux career vs TOR: 21 GP- 8 goals- 15 assists- 23 PTS

Wayne Simmonds career vs TOR: 14 GP- 5 goals- 3 assists- 8 PTS

Jakub Voracek career vs TOR: 11 GP- 3 goals- 9 assists- 12 PTS

Steve Mason career vs TOR: 7 GP- Record: 3-3-1. 3.64 GAA- .876 SV%

Ray Emery career vs TOR: 13 GP (10 GS) Record: 6-3-2, 3.16 GAA- .901 SV%

Keys to Victory

Dec 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) celebrates his goal in the first period as Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) reacts at Air Canada Centre. The Flyers beat the Maple Leafs 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Leafs will have a hard time containing the Flyers offence. With Phaneuf out it will be interesting to see who Peter Horachek plays against Giroux and Voracek. If the Leafs cannot stop the Flyers offence they have to hope that they can limit their efficiency.

Dec 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) shoots as Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) defends in the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Leafs need to try to be better without the puck, something that the elite teams do really well. If the Leafs cannot contain the Flyers in the neutral zone then they will have a hard time with Flyers ability to move the puck efficiently in the offensive zone.

Phil Kessel finally got a goal against the Coyotes so hopefully it can spark him to get on a scoring run and maybe the team can follow him.

Dec 14, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul (19) scores the winning goal against Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) in the the overtime shoot out at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Los Angeles 4-3. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Joffrey Lupul is now back from injury and with Phaneuf gone it is up to him to lead this team through this tough time. If he can be a contributor on and off the ice during Phaneuf’s absence it may give mangement something to think about in terms of who will be this team’s captain moving forward.

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