Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs will again face the Philadelphia Flyers after last week’s 6-2 trouncing. In the rematch, fans should watch for several things. First, the Flyers have played far better this season than expected. Part of that is the influence of their fiery head coach, John Tortorella. He’ll be back behind the bench after a recent suspension. As a result, he should have his team determined and anxious to bounce back from last week’s poor showing.
At the other end of the ice, the Maple Leafs played a frustrating game against the Carolina Hurricanes that ended in a shootout loss on Saturday night. They will be hungry for another win against the Flyers. Look for Auston Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi to put on a show.
Both teams have had trouble with ]special teams recently. The Flyers need to pump up their power play, and the Maple Leafs need to sharpen their penalty kill. Special teams could play a crucial role in determining the game’s outcome.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe will be tweaking his lineup out of need and a desire to see what works as the Maple Leafs near the playoffs. I expect to see Ryan Reaves start on the fourth line to help keep things under control in case the Flyers seek to push back physically.
Item One: Mitch Marner Won’t Play for the Foreseeable Future
Mitch Marner’s ankle injury is taking more time than expected to heal. Marner will miss the upcoming two-game road trip against Philadelphia and the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, extending his absence to five games. Keefe noted that Marner’s injury hasn’t responded as hoped, hence the decision to give him additional time to recover.
Marner’s absence leaves a significant void in the Maple Leafs’ lineup. He’s been a key contributor with 25 goals and 76 points in 62 games this season. His dynamic playmaking will be missed, particularly on special teams.
In Marner’s absence, Pontus Holmberg is expected to continue partnering with Matthews. It isn’t as if the Maple Leafs don’t have other players ready to step up to show what they can do offensively to compensate for Marner’s absence. Now, they just have to do so.
Item Three: Ilya Lyubushkin Might Be Unavailable to Play
Ilya Lyubushkin is set to miss tonight’s game due to a reported illness. Still, despite reports, he’s likely to suddenly reappear on the ice – hurt, ill, or otherwise. Although he hasn’t yet scored a goal in the 62 games he’s played between the Anaheim Ducks and the Maple Leafs this season, Lyubushkin’s been a physical presence, collecting 140 hits and blocking 148 shots.
In seven games with the Maple Leafs, he’s played well enough defensively that his contributions will be missed. It’s interesting that in his 55 games with the Ducks, he put up four assists. However, he’s already added two assists in Toronto. Different teams.
