Game Preview: Maple Leafs Seek Revenge Against the Florida Panthers
Welcome!
This is the premium game day preview; the first couple of previews will be free for all users. However, after that, it’ll be just for premium subscribers. So, if you like what you see, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out! We will talk about news and notes surrounding the Maple Leafs. As well as projected lineups and three keys to the game that could help the Maple Leafs beat their opponent. Tonight, the Leafs look to get revenge against Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers after they were eliminated by them last year in the second round of the 2023 NHL Playoffs.
The Maple Leafs are hungry after their first loss of the season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night. The Panthers are an injury-riddled team that is looking to keep their head above water until both Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad return to their lineup.
This game carries an extra amount of hatred, as the Maple Leafs are looking to get revenge on the team that embarrassed them in the second round of the playoffs. The boys in blue will also be looking to collect as many early season points as they can to help them secure the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
News & Notes:
Tyler Bertuzzi takes a maintenance day - is absent from practice
Will be back in the lineup alongside his Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner
Fraser Minten enters game 4 of his 9-game trial
Still no clarification if he is staying past the 9 games or will return to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL
Nick Robertson is ripping it up in the AHL with 5 points in 2 games
The Marlies had a week off in between games; they return this Saturday, Oct. 21, against the Charlotte Checkers (AHL affiliate of the Panthers)
Projected Lineups:
Please Note: These lineups are subject to change based on unforeseen circumstances.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Tyler Bertuzzi – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner
Matthew Knies – John Tavares – William Nylander
Calle Jarnkrok – Fraser Minten – Max Domi
Noah Gregor – David Kampf – Ryan Reaves
Morgan Reilly – T.J. Brodie
Jake McCabe – Timothy Liljegren
Mark Giordano – John Klingberg
Ilya Samsonov - Joseph Woll
Florida Panthers
Sam Reinhart - Aleksander Barkov - Evan Rodriques
Carter Verhaeghe - Eetu Luostarinen - Matthew Tkachuk
Nick Cousins - Anton Lundell - Justin Sourdif
Ryan Lomberg - Kevin Stenlund - Steven Lorentz
Gustav Formling - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Niko Mikkola - Dmitry Kulikov
Josh Mahura - Uvis Balinskis
Sergei Bobrovsky – Anthony Stolarz
3 Keys to the Game:
Need to score in the first period: The Maple Leafs are the type of team that will do well if they feel confident. Well, what makes players confident? Finding the back of the net. If they can capitalize on a scoring chance or two, the team will play up to their capabilities, which can reduce sloppy play.
Defence wins championships: The Maple Leafs have been awful defensively this season; they have given up 13 goals in three games. For a team that wants to be ranked among the contenders, they need to start playing like it. That all starts with shutdown hockey—playing on the defensive side of the puck and protecting the net late in games. If their blue line can help reduce the opposition's scoring, they should be okay in this game against the Panthers.
Ignore Matthew Tkachuk: This should be a league-wide message at this point. Tkachuk gets under his opponent's skin and uses it to help his team win games. If the Maple Leafs can ignore him the best they can, they should be okay. If not, the game will probably be penalty-filled, which lacks flow. Flow is what the Maple Leafs need to win games; they need consistency to get their best players over the board every fourth shift.
Preview Prediction:
This is a fun portion of the preview, where I predict the score of the game as well as a goal scorer from either team. There is also a poll down below where, you, the premium subscriber can vote on who you think the winner of the game will be.
Winning Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Reason: It’s simple - revenge.
Goal Scorers:
Toronto Maple Leafs: William Nylander
Reason: He has shown this season, as well as last year in the playoffs, that his confidence is at an all-time high. Plus, I feel that he is going to try and score 50 to prove he can compete with the big boys.
Florida Panthers: Nick Cousins
Reason: Remember who scored the series winner last year? Yup, you guessed it right, it was Nick Cousins… this could only mean one thing - he will score again tonight to continue to rub it in Maple Leafs fans’ faces.
Be sure to check out our game-day chat later today. It is a fun, interactive way to chat with diehard Leafs fans, just like yourself!