Gameday Preview:  Pittsburgh Penguins vs Toronto Maple Leafs

 

Time: Thursday, October 18^th 2018

Toronto: 6-1-0 for 12 points

Pittsburgh: 2-1-2 for 5 points

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins meet in a matchup with Sidney Crosby and Auston Matthews being at the forefront. Two of the most prolific players in the game today. The Leafs come in riding a 5 game win streak and looking to continue to prove the doubters that they are really this good. While the Penguins come in losing in Overtime to Vancouver 3-2. Losing Justin Schultz for 4 months is a huge hit to the Penguins blue line and Vancouver took advantage of that.

This will be another big challenge for the Leafs as the Penguins have proven they know how to win despite injuries.

Top Scorers/Goalie Matchup

Auston Matthews – 14 points (10 goals 6 assists) 53% on Face-offs
Morgan Rielly – 13 points (3 goals 10 assists)
John Tavares – 11 points (6 goals 5 assists) 49% on face-offs
Mitch Marner – 11 points (4 goals 7 assists)

Evgeni Malkin –9 points (1 goals 8 assists)
Phil Kessel– 8 points (4 goal 4 assists)
Kris Letang– 6 points (3 goal 3 assist)
Jake Guentzel– 4points (4 goals)

Frederik Andersen
4-1-0 3.02GAA .899SV%

Matt Murray
1-1-0 5.45GAA .831SV%

Lineups & Injuries

Toronto:

Kasperi Kapanen – Auston Matthews – Patrick Marleau
Mitch Marner – John Tavares– Zach Hyman
Pars Lindholm – Nazem Kadri – Connor Brown
Andreas Johnsson – Frederik Gauthier – Josh Leivo

Morgan Rielly  – Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner – Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott – Igor Ozhiganov

Frederik Andersen
Garrett Sparks

Scratched: Tyler Ennis, Justin Holl & Martin Marincin

Injuries: Nathan Horton (Back)

Suspension: None

Pittsburgh:

Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Derick Brassard
Carl Hagelin – Evgeni Malkin – Phil Kessel
Patric Hornqvist– Riley Sheahan – Bryan Rust
Dominik Simon – Matt Cullen – Daniel Sprong

Brian Dumoulin – Kris Letang
Jack Johnson – Jamie Oleksiuk
Olli Maatta – Juuso Riikola

Matt Murray
Casey DeSmith

Scratched: None

Injuries: Justin Schultz (LTIR)

Suspension: None

4 Keys to Winning against Pittsburgh:

1. Attack the Defence
   1. With Justin Schultz out for 4 months the Leafs must attack the defence and force them to make plays quick.
2. Win faceoffs
   1. Puck possession is the Penguins game style. Win the faceoffs control the game.
3. Fourth line
   1. Gauthier, Leivo and Johnsson have been a fantastic 4^th line since being put together. They must continue to dominate especially against a pretty young 4^th line in Pittsburgh.
4. Force the Penguins to take a Penalties
   1. Let the Power-Play do it’s job.

 

 

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