It’s Puckin Game Day | Ducks @ Maple Leafs

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We waited for GM of the Leafs, Kyle Dubas, to trade for a backup for too long, but it finally got done!!

After dropping consecutive games by a score of 5-3 it was clear that something had to be done about the state of the Leafs goaltending. In Jack Campbell the team is getting a former 1st round pick (11th overall, 2010) that slowly moved his way up the ranks in Los Angeles before becoming a steady backup. He holds a career 2.58GAA and 0.916SV%, solid numbers for a #2 goaltender.

It would be in bad taste to compare those numbers to Michael Hutchinsons 2.81GAA, and 0.905SV%, so don’t be that guy, “Hutch” always gave it his all when he played.

The fact that they acquired Kyle Clifford in this deal is simply gravy. The 6’2″, 215lb forward is known to pick up for his teammates, while also bringing a physical and responsible game to the ice. He’ll quickly cement himself as a fan favourite, of that I’m sure.

In other news, it appears that Cody Ceci will be out for a while:


This is bad news for Ceci, but it opens the door for “L’il Tim” to show management what he can do at the NHL level over a few games. The former 17th overall pick has been steadily improving in the AHL, and the hope is that he can help steady the blueline in the long run.

He’ll be paired with Rasmus Sandin tonight, the two have been frequent partners in the minors, so it should be fun to see how they connect with the big club.

Jack Campbell starts, L’il Tim is drawing in, and Kyle Clifford (a Leaf fan), is suiting up for the first time for his childhood team.

That all makes this one worth watching.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: 29-19-7

PP%: 25.7 % (3rd)

PK%: 77.1% (25th)

GF/GP: 3.60 (2nd)

GA/GP: 3.29 (27th)

S/GP: 33.6 (4th)

SA/GP: 32.3 (23rd)

Montreal Canadiens

Record: 26-23-7

PP%: 19.9% (13th)

PK%: 79.2% (21st)

GF/GP: 3.05 (17th)

GA/GP: 3.07 (T-17th)

S/GP: 34.6 (1st)

SA/GP: 31.4 (16th)

Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Line Up

Forwards
#18 Andreas Johnsson – #34 Auston Matthews – #16 Mitch Marner
#15 Alex Kerfoot – #91 John Tavares – #11 Zach Hyman
#73 Kyle Clifford – #19 Jason Spezza – #24 Kasperi Kapanen
#41 Dmytro Timashov – #33 Frederik Gauthier – #47 Pierre Engvall

Defensemen
#8 Jake Muzzin – #3 Justin Holl
#23 Travis Dermott – #94 Tyson Barrie
#38 Rasmus Sandin – #37 Timothy Liljegren

Goaltenders
#36 Jack Campbell (starter)
#30 Michael Hutchinson

Scratched: Martin Marincin
Injured: Ilya Mikheyev, Morgan Rielly, Frederik Andersen, Cody Ceci, William Nylander

Montreal Canadiens Projected Line Up

Forwards
#90 Tomas Tatar – #24 Phillip Danault – #11 Brendan Gallagher
#17 Ilya Kovalchuk – #14 Nick Suzuki –  #40 Joel Armia
#92 Jonathan Drouin – #13 Max Domi – #62 Artturi Lehkonen
#21 Nick Cousins – #44 Nate Thompson – #22 Dale Weise

Defensemen
#77 Brett Kulak – #26 Jeff Petry
#8 Ben Chariot – #53 Victor Mete
#28 Marco Scandella – #61 Xavier Oullet

Goaltenders
#31 Cary Price
#39 Charlie Lindgren

Scratched: Christian Folin, Jordan Weal, Jake Evans

Injured: Shea Weber, Paul Byron