The injuries keep on coming for the Leafs, this time it’s NHL goal scoring leader, Auston Matthews, that will be on the sidelines:
Losing Matthews will hurt their chances of winning tonight. He’s been leading the team on the ice all year, having brought his game to a whole new level this season. While the team is lucky to have another #1 centre on the team, captain John Tavares, it’s never an easy thing to win without your best player on the roster.
With all of that said the return of Thornton, Muzzin and Campbell should give the rest of the roster a boost. Michael Hutchinson has done a commendable job in net with the Leafs top two options, Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell on the sidelines, but to get some depth back in the crease is huge. Meanwhile, Jake Muzzin is the teams best all-around defender and leaves a massive hole in the lineup when he’s not playing, while Thornton gives the team a big morale boost.
If the team can contain the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, while connecting a little more on the powerplay (they went 0 for 11 against Calgary over the past two games), then they could walk away with a win tonight.
Enjoy the game.
GO LEAFS GO!!