Surely this time it will be different for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Even though it’s pretty much the same team and even though they’re built around the same core players playing the exact same way, you just get the sense that this is a group that has learned from their past failures. So when they match-up against the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions or against the Boston Bruins in round one, maybe they’ll finally find a way to win a round.
Or, on the other hand, Leafs suck. Either way.
The Ottawa Senators host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night at the Caandian Tire Centre.
DJ Smith has wrapped up his morning media availability and confirmed that they’ll go with a similar look as the other night in Boston. That means Mathieu Joseph misses another game with an injury that may actually be worse than they originally thought. Sounds like there may be some doubt over whether he plays again this season.
Here’s how the Senators are expected to line up for this one.
Tkachuk-Norris-Brown
Formenton-Stützle-Batherson
Tierney-White-Gaudette
Kelly-Gambrell-Watson
Del Zotto-Hamonic
Brannstrom-Zub
Holden-Zaitsev
Anton Forsberg gets another start for the Senators. Filip Gustavsson has been recalled from Belleville and will dress as Forsberg’s back up. DJ Smith said the plan is to get Gustavsson into a couple games down the stretch.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 PM but could be pushed back if Sportsnet’s pregame segment on Auston Matthews’ moustache runs a little long. The game is available on CBC, Sportsnet, on the radio at TSN 1200. If streaming is your thing, keep an eye on the comment section for a visit from friendly internet pirates.
Here’s a closer look at this evening’s match-up via the award-winning HEAD2HEAD table.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 48-20-6 (102 pts) | 28-40-6 (62 pts) |
| Goals For | 3.84 (2nd) | 2.69 (26th) |
| Goals Against | 3.08 (18th) | 3.20 (22nd) |
| Power Play | 28.0% (1st) | 19.8% (20th) |
| Penalty Kill | 83.2% (7th) | 80.4% (13th) |
| Shots For | 34.6 (7th) | 30.3 (20th) |
| Shots Against | 30.5 (10th) | 33.1 (25th) |
| Leading Scorers | Matthews- 101 pts Msrner- 91 pts Tavares- 72 pts Nylander- 71 pts Rielly- 65 pts |
Tkachuk- 58 pts Norris- 50 pts Stützle- 50 pts Batherson- 40 pts Brown- 37 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Erik Kallgren 5-3-1 2.93 GAA, .899 sv% |
Anton Forsberg 19-16-3 2.73 GAA, .919 sv% |
