Toronto Maple Leafs will field a comically weak lineup against the Ducks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have managed to secure victories in seven of their last ten games, a feat that may seem improbable given their challenges. Despite lacking goaltending, consistency, depth, a solid blue-line, and the absence of Morgan Rielly, they continue to find ways to win.
Remarkably, the Leafs have won both of their games since Rielly’s suspension, including an impressive victory against St. Louis and a less convincing one against the Flyers, where only Auston Matthews seemed to shine.
Tonight’s matchup against the struggling Anaheim Mighty Ducks, with potential future Leafs goalie John Gibson, should theoretically be an easy win. However, considering the unpredictability of the Leafs, nothing is certain.
The Leafs will field an unusual lineup tonight due to injuries to John Tavares (undisclosed), Mark Giordano’s bereavement leave, and Morgan Rielly’s ongoing injury. Furthermore, despite concerns about the team’s goaltending situation, Martin Jones will once again start in net, much to the frustration of fans who believe the team should be prioritizing winning the division and pursuing a Stanley Cup.
The decision to start Jones, who has been inconsistent, highlights ongoing issues in the Leafs’ goaltending department. Max Domi, typically a candidate for sitting out or being waived on any other team, will be promoted to second-line center for tonight’s game.
Following a disappointing performance against the Flyers, where they were outmatched in scoring chances, the Leafs will revert to their top defensive pairing of Brodie and Liljegren, despite concerns about their effectiveness.
