The Toronto Maple Leafs begin a three-game road trip Thursday night against the Washington Capitals. The Leafs are coming off a 3–2 third period comeback win over the Chicago Blackhawks. These games loom large for Toronto. They do not need a perfect road trip, but winning two of three would go a long way toward pushing them back into the playoff picture. The Leafs currently sit sixth in the NHL’s Atlantic Division standings with a 15–12–5 record.
The Return of Marshall Rifai
The Maple Leafs also received positive news earlier today. Defenceman Marshall Rifai was assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on a conditioning loan. Rifai has been sidelined since undergoing surgery after suffering an injury in a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Marlies are set to face the Belleville Senators on Saturday and Sunday. There is a strong chance Rifai could rejoin the Maple Leafs ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rifai impressed during training camp before his injury. With Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo still out, a spot on the Leafs’ blueline could be opening at the right time.
Projected Lineups vs. Capitals
Forwards
Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — William Nylander
Nicholas Robertson — John Tavares — Easton Cowan
Dakota Joshua — Nicolas Roy — Bobby McMann
Steven Lorentz — Scott Laughton — Max Domi
Defence
Morgan Rielly — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe — Troy Stecher
Simon Benoit — Henry Thrun
Goaltenders
Dennis Hildeby is expected to get the start for Toronto. Joseph Woll was solid against Chicago after a shaky opening. However, the Leafs may look to manage his workload. Hildeby has been dependable when called upon. He owns a .923 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average. When both Woll and Anthony Stolarz were injured earlier this season, Hildeby stepped in and delivered much-needed wins for a struggling Leafs team.
Nylander will skate on the top line for the second-straight game. The Leafs are hoping to spark Auston Matthews offensively. Matthews has endured an up-and-down season. With Mitch Marner no longer in the picture, he appears to benefit from having elite talent on his wing. Against Chicago, Leafs fans finally saw a vintage Matthews snipe late in the third period. That is something Toronto hopes to see more of moving forward.
On the backend, the defence remains unchanged. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been a stabilizing force this season. He is on pace for a career year. He has arguably been the Leafs’ most consistent player. Toronto will need more from Morgan Rielly defensively. Meanwhile, Troy Stecher continues to impress since being claimed off waivers from Edmonton. Stecher has six points with Toronto and is averaging over 20 minutes of ice time.
Keys to the Game
Toronto will need a full 60-minute effort to have success against Washington. Earlier this season, the Leafs showed they can control play against the Capitals when they stay aggressive and structured. However, lapses, especially late in games, have proven costly.
Leadership will also be crucial. Matthews set the tone against Chicago by taking over in the third period. The Leafs will need similar performances from their core group on the road.
Finally, strong goaltending remains essential. Hildeby struggled against Edmonton, but the team in front of him offered little support. A bounce-back performance similar to what he delivered against Tampa Bay would give Toronto a strong chance to open the road trip with a win.
Main Photo: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
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