Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Intriguing Game Against the Florida Panthers
Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Intriguing Game Against the Florida Panthers
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.
Florida Panthers (24-19-12) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (23-29-5), 7:30 p.m. Rogers Sportsnet.
The Leafs lost their last game against the Panthers 6-4.
Leafs Injury Report
Joffrey Lupul is doubtful with a knee injury
Dion Phaneuf out with a hand injury
Neither Joffrey Lupul or Dion Phaneuf will be available tomorrow, says Horachek. still unclear of timetable. #TMLtalk
— David Alter (@dalter) February 16, 2015
Projected Line Combinations (Leafs)
#Leafs lines. Winnik-Kadri-Panik
— David Alter (@dalter) February 16, 2015
JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Komarov-Holland-Clarkson
Booth-Kozun #TMLtalk
Rielly and Polak become Leafs top pairing. Gardiner and Holzer are the 2nd group. Granberg/Robidas are Leafs' 3rd pairing. #tmltalk
— Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) February 16, 2015
Panthers Injury Report
Willie Mitchell out with an upper-body injury
Brandon Pirri out with an upper-body injury
Projected Line Combinations (Panthers)
Game Preview
More from Tip of the Tower
- Cam Phillips making his mark on Toronto Argonauts offence
- Toronto Argonauts: 4 storylines ahead of matchup against Redblacks
- Federico Bernardeschi ready for new challenge with Toronto FC
- Toronto Argonauts overcome Roughriders in entertaining Touchdown Atlantic
- Buffalo Bills: Von Miller drawing inspiration from Bruce Smith
Usually a game between the Leafs and Panthers does not have major hype towards it because they usually do not provide a lot of excitement. However, recent events might have changed that.
Not the trade involving the Leafs and the Predators but the rumours of the Panthers being interested in Phil Kessel. However, the other part of the rumour also says that the Panthers would not like to include any of their stud players in a deal, which is something the Leafs do not want to hear.
The Panthers have been quietly improving with their big bodied players down the middle and their improving blue line, a good starter in Roberto Luongo but something is missing. A player like Kessel would give the Panthers the elite goal scorer that they are missing, but if they are unwilling to pay the Leafs price then the Leafs will look elsewhere for a deal.
Feb 14, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN;Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Daniel Winnik (not pictured) scores a goal against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) as center Nazem Kadri (43) looks on during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
The Leafs had a spirited effort against the Montreal Canadiens and while they fell short of a win it gives the team a nice moral boost (whatever they get out of it). The Leafs will now be missing Cody Franson and Dion Phaneuf on the blue line and Mike Santorelli so it will be interesting to see which players try to step up and show management that they may be able to work in the team’s future plans.
Dec 28, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers right wing Brad Boyes (left) celebrates his game winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs as defenseman Roman Polak (46) and center Aleksander Barkov (16) look on in the third period at BB&T Center. The Panthers won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
The last time these teams played each other the Leafs allowed four unanswered goals in the third period. It also started the eventual decline in play that lead to the dismissal of Randy Carlyle which the team has not been able to recover from. The Leafs have lost four of their last five games against the Panthers which is astonishing because the Panthers are not a great team and the Leafs should want to at least be competitive against a team within their own division.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Apr 10, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) checks Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) in front of goalie Roberto Luongo (1) in the third period at BB&T Center. The Panthers won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Kessel career vs FLR: 31 GP – 12 goals – 8 assist – 20 PTS
James van Riemsdyk career vs FLR: 16 GP- 4 goals- 7 assists- 11 PTS
Tyler Bozak career vs FLR: 16 GP- 4 goals- 4 assists- 8 PTS
Nazem Kadri career vs FLR: 9 GP- 1 goals- 7 assists- 8 PTS
Jonathan Bernier career vs FLR: 3 GP– Record: 1-1 2.58 GAA – .938 SV%
James Reimer career vs FLR: 5 GP- Record: 1-4, 3.78 GAA- .864 SV%
Florida Panthers
Dec 28, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; (EDITORS NOTE: caption correction) Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau (11) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with center Nick Bjugstad (27) and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) in the second period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Bjugstad career vs TOR: 6 GP- 3 goals- 2 assists- 5 PTS
Jussi Jokinen career vs TOR: 19 GP- 5 goals- 10 assists- 15 PTS
Dave Bolland career vs TOR: 4 GP- 1 goal- 3 assists- 4 PTS
Brad Boyes career vs TOR: 33 GP- 9 goals- 17 assists- 26 PTS
Roberto Luongo career vs TOR: 26 GP– Record: 16-7, 2.36 GAA – .923 SV%
Al Montoya career vs TOR: 3 GP- Record: 1-1-1, 2.94 GAA- .877 SV%
Keys to Victory
Dec 28, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Peter Holland (24) , defenseman Dion Phaneuf (3) , Florida Panthers center Jonathan Huberdeau (11) and right wing Jimmy Hayes (12) battle for the puck in the third period at BB&T Center. The Panthers won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
The Panthers are not an overly experienced team so they might underestimate the Leafs which is something they should try to take advantage of if they can.
The Leafs did a good job cycling the puck against the Canadiens on Saturday night but they do not have a big shot from the point with Franson and Phaneuf out. They will have to find a way to get open chances in the slot and try to move the puck fast.
Feb 14, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) makes a save on Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) shot during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Kessel should want to show the Panthers that he is worth a big-ticket in trade talk and he will get the best opportunity tonight against the Panthers.
Bernier will likely get the start against the Panthers after a decent night against the Canadiens and if he can play like he did on Saturday the Leafs might have a chance to pick up two points. The one thing he needs to do is move the puck more confidently and not float it out and make it difficult on the defence to move it.