I wouldn’t call the debuts of Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford flawless by any means. However, the Leafs new backup goaltender looked like he could be an upgrade over any goalie that has backstopped Frederik Andersen since the departure of Curtis McElhinney. Kyle Clifford brought some jam to the lineup that has been missing since the days of Matt Martin.
They aren’t all-stars, and nobody is expecting them to be, but the Leafs added a couple of good role players to fill some pressing needs.
Now, about that defense, eh Kyle?
It’s still unclear who will start in Montreal tonight, but the general consensus is that if Frederik Andersen can’t go they will look toward Jack Campbell once again.
One name that flew under the radar last night was former 17th overall pick, Timothy Liljegren.
He played just 11 minutes on the night, with nearly 1 minute of that shorthanded, but didn’t look out of place. The club has shown a lot of patience with Liljegren, and we may see that patience pay off over the next couple of years.
Lines will be updated after warm up, but right now the only changes that might happen are from the previously mentioned Frederik Andersen, and possibly William Nylander.
To have those two back on the ice would be a major boost to the Leafs chances.
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