After a 4-3 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild last night, the Leafs are back again facing the Winnipeg Jets this evening.
Toronto is entering tonight’s game without a regulation loss since November 20th vs. Pittsburgh at Scotiabank Arena. Winnipeg is coming into the game with six losses in their last eight games. However, they haven’t played since Friday, so expect them to be ready to go.
The Jets also haven’t had the best start to their season, but they also haven’t had the worst start. Just over a quarter way into the season, Winnipeg is a middle of the pack team in the Central Division with the same amount of points as Colorado and Dallas.
Only one player on the Jets is producing over a point-per-game this season, and that’s Kyle Connor. The 24-year-old has 25 points (14G, 11A) in 23 games.
Connor Hellebuyck is expected to be the starter to Winnipeg. In 18 games this year, he has eight wins and a .916 save percentage.
The Leafs projected lineup
Toronto’s lines will likely be similar to last night’s game in Minnesota.
Some lineup changes are that Joseph Woll will start tonight, per Keefe. Both of Kyle Clifford and Joey Anderson skated this morning in Winnipeg, but there was no discussion on if either would play.
Travis Dermott was skating, which likely means Timothy Liljegren will be in the lineup tonight alongside Rasmus Sandin.
Leafs injury updates
The biggest piece of news is that Mitch Marner won’t play tonight. After colliding with Jake Muzzin at practice on Friday, the Leafs thought it would be best to give Marner the weekend off.
“He won’t be available,” said Sheldon Keefe after the Leafs loss in Minnesota. “They wanted to see how he responded this morning, and they were looking at it, gave it some time during the day, and then ultimately just decided give him the weekend here, and then we’ll get back home and get a better idea of what might be happening there.”
Keefe also mentioned that he doesn’t expect Marner to be out long term.
Some other Leafs news to go over is that Petr Mrazek is starting for the Marlies in a few hours. With only one game this weekend for the Marlies, it’s not known if the Leafs will want to keep him up there or not for one more game. The Marlies don’t play until Friday after today’s game.
For the Leafs, though, tonight’s puck drop in Winnipeg is at 8 PM ET.
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