Time: Saturday, Novemeber 3rd, 2018
Toronto: 8-5-0 for 16 points
Pittsburgh: 6-2-1 for 13 points
The Toronto Maple Leafs come into Pittsburgh on a 2 game losing streak and looking to get back into the win column in a hurry. This will mark the 2nd meeting of the season and the 3rd game without superstar Auston Matthews. Pittsburgh has only lost 3 games this season 2 in regulation and 1 in overtime. Look for it to be a close game between two top teams.
Top Scorers/Goalie Matchup
Auston Matthews – 16 points (10 goals 6 assists) 53% on Face-off
Mitch Marner – 16 points (4 goals 12 assists)
Morgan Rielly – 16 points (4 goals 12 assists)
John Tavares – 14 points (7 goals 7 assists) 49% on face-offs
Evgeni Malkin –20 points (7 goals 13 assists) 49.3% faceoffs
Phil Kessel– 16 points (7 goal 9 assists)
Sidney Crosby– 14 points (6 goal 8 assist)
Kris Letang– 12 points (4 goal 8 assists)
Frederik Andersen
6-5-0 2.53GAA .919SV%
Matt Murray
4-2-1 3.45GAA .897SV%
Probable Lineups:
Toronto:
Mitch Marner – John Tavares – Zach Hyman
Kasperi Kapanen – Nazem Kadri– Patrick Marleau
Tyler Ennis – Pars Lindholm – 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: Justin Holl & Martin Marincin
Injuries: Nathan Horton (Back), Auston Matthews (Shoulder)
Suspension: None
Penguins:
Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Derrick Simon
Carl Hagelin – Evgeni Malkin– Phil Kessel
Bryan Rust– Riley Sheahan – Patric Hornqvist
Derek Grant – Matt Cullen – Daniel Sprong
Brian Dumoulin –Kris Letang
Olli Maatta – Jamie Oleksiuk
Jack Johnson – Chad Ruhwedel
Matt Murray
Casey DeSmith
Scratched: None
Injuries: Justin Schultz, Derrick Brassard
Suspension: None
4 Keys to Winning against Pittsburgh:
- Be Aggresive
- Play like you did in Dallas, hard on the forecheck and aggressive in all zones.
- Faceoffs
- Need to start winning faceoffs again. Get the puck first and quick.
- John Tavares/Mitch Marner
- Needs to bring their A game from the beginning. They need someone to step up and it needs to be at least one of these two and I wouldn’t expect anything less.
- Limit Turnovers
- No crazy turnovers, way too much talent on this Penguins. They will make you pay for even the tiniest mistake
Game Day Lineups:
First Period:
Toronto Penalty – 04:46 – Patrick Marleau 2 minutes from Hooking
Toronto Goal – 09:34 – John Tavares (8) from Mitch Marner (13) and Ron Hainsey (4)
End of 1st – TOR – 1 PIT – 0
Shots 13 09
Faceoffs 21/29 8/29
Hits 9 15
PP 0/0 0/1
Analysis:
Leafs are winning faceoffs, and playing aggressive in all zone. Marner and Tavares look like they came ready to play.
Need to Do:
Get more bodies in front of Murray really having a hard time tracking the puck.
Second Period:
Toronto Goal – 00:44 – Patrick Marleau (3) from Kasperi Kapanen (5) and Nazem Kadri (5)
Toronto Penalty – 01:21 – Igor Ozhiganov 2 minutes for Tipping
Toronto Penalty – 03:22 – Nazem Kadri 2 minutes for High Sticking
Pittsburgh Penalty – 09:37 – Jamie Oleksiuk 2 minutes for Hooking
Toronto Goal – 11:49 – Morgan Rielly (5) from John Tavares (8) and Kasperi Kapanen (5)
Pittsburgh Penalty – 15:38 – Bryan Rust 2 minutes for Roughing
Toronto Goal – 00:44 – Patrick Marleau (3) from Kasperi Kapanen (5) and Nazem Kadri (5)
End of 2nd – TOR – 3 PIT – 0
Shots 30 18
Faceoffs 35/61 26/61
Hits 20 28
PP 0/2 0/3
Analysis:
Leaf came out flying this period with solid defensive play and it turned into serious offence curtesy of some nifty play by Kasperi Kapanen. I said in the pre-game Tavares and Marner need to be the best players and that they are tonight.
Need to Do:
Shut down, but don’t take your foot off the gas pedal.
Third Period:
Toronto Penalty – 03:32 – Igor Ozhiganov 2 minutes for Holding
Pittsburgh Penalty – 14:42 – Carl Hagelin 2 minutes for Slashing
Toronto PP Goal – 15:33 – Morgan Rielly (6) from Mitch Marner (14) and Jake Gardiner (7)
Toronto Penalty – 19:11 – Connor Brown 2 minutes for Interference
Toronto SH Goal – 19:40 – Zach Hyman (1) Unassisted
End of 3rd – TOR – 5 PIT – 0
Shots 33 31
Faceoffs 45/80 35/80
Hits 25 46
PP 1/3 0/5
Analysis:
John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly silencing all the critics. Frederik Andersen shutting the door all made for a pretty convincing Leafs win. Tavares dominated in the faceoff circle, while Marner had the vision going at it’s finest. Also Hainsey looked like the shutdown guy he was last season.
Next Up:
Vegas (5-7-1 13pts) @ Toronto (9-5-0 18pts)
New Jersey (5-4-1 11pts) @ Pittburgh (6-3-3 15pts)
You can watch TXHT Live this Tuesday at 8p EST on both Twitch and Facebook Live.
