Leafs Notes: Home Cooking

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a hot start, thanks to its balanced lineup and speed. The Maple Leafs will be at home this week facing the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues.

Monday, 10.15.18 vs. Los Angeles Kings-7:30 p.m.

The first test of the week for the Maple Leafs will be the Los Angeles Kings, who are without starting goaltender, Jonathan Quick. There is no doubt that the Maple Leafs need to be better defensively to help out their goaltender. They should get plenty of pucks to the net to test the Kings goalie early and often. Toronto will want to get off to a fast start and put some pucks in the back of the net to get going and keep the home crowd in the game. The Maple Leafs should take advantage of their power play opportunities since they have one of the best power plays in the League, while the Kings have one of the worst penalty kills.

Matchup of the Game

The goalies will be the players of this game to keep an eye on. Frederik Andersen is injured for the Leafs so Garret Sparks get the start between the pipes. It will likely be Jack Campbell, who has started the majority of the games while Jonathan Quick has been out, but it could also be Petr Budaj for the Kings. The Kings are going to need a spectacular showing from whichever goalie gets the start because the Maple Leafs have one of the best offenses in the League. Sparks is going to need to be sharp as well since the team tends to play wide open and gives up a lot in front of him. 

Thursday, 10.18.18 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins- 7 p.m. 

The Maple Leafs have a few days off between games but then the Penguins come to town. The Maple Leafs are going to need to make sure that they play with discipline since the Penguins have deadly power play. Toronto needs to play a strong game at even strength and keep the top six of the Penguins in-check. They want to get plenty of pucks to the net since Matt Murray has had a rough start to the season, while Casey DeSmith has been better, but can be beat. The Leafs will want to have the lead entering the final period of play since they can finish out games when leading.

Matchup of the Game

There will be two big matchups to watch in this game, and that will be how each team handle the opposition's top two lines. Who does Mike Babcock matchup against Sidney Crosby? Does he go with Nazem Kadri's line or does he go with Matthews' line for power against power? Who gets the job of trying to defend the Malkin line? Is it Tavares' line or does he save Tavares for the Crosby line and matchup Kadri's line against Malkin and company?

Saturday, 10.20.18 vs. St. Louis Blues- 7 p.m.

The St. Louis Blues are off to a slow start after the hype of the offseason and acquiring some offensive help. The Maple Leafs will need to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game. Toronto will want to play a discipline game since the Blues power play is operating over 30% on the season. They should try to get in on the forecheck to force turnovers and get some pucks toward the net. The Leafs want to play a smart hockey game and use their speed to draw some penalties.

Matchup of the Game

The power play units for both teams are ranked in the top 10 in the League. The Maple Leafs are ranked 2nd , while the Blues have a 6th ranked power play. The Blues have two balanced units, while the Leafs have depended on the first unit to get the power play scoring.

Weekly Prediction

The Maple Leafs will finish the week at 1-2-0 in their three games. They will win against the Kings, but then lose back-to-back games to the Penguins and Blues. The Penguins will be a good challenge for the Leafs to see if they can beat a perennial playoff team, or if they are not quite there yet. If the Leafs want to steal some points, then they are going to need to play better on the defensive side of the puck and be aware of what is going on around them on the ice. 

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 3/11/18-3/17/18

The Toronto Maple Leafs will finally get to play some games this week after playing just three games in the last 11 days.

The Leafs will still have off until Wednesday night, but then play three games in four days. It won't be an easy stretch as they'll face the Dallas Stars as home on Wednesday night. The Leafs will then travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Thursday night. Toronto will finish the week on Saturday night at home against the Montreal Canadiens.

Toronto will want to use their speed in transition to create odd man rushes and draw penalties. The Leafs should try to get involved early in this game and create chances. The Maple Leafs need a good game from the goaltender with no soft goals and not allowing everything to get past him. Toronto should try to win the battle at even strength since this game could very well come down to even strength goals.

Dallas  will need to contain the speed of the Maple Leafs since they have plenty of it. The Stars want to play a good game in the neutral zone by limiting mistakes and turnovers. Dallas needs the goaltending to be very good in this game and not allow any soft goals. The Stars should watch Patrick Marleau since he has 65 career points in 101 games played against the Stars.

The Sabres need to limit their mistakes with and without the puck since the Leafs have the ability to finish. Buffalo will want to play the game with some discipline since their penalty kill has been in the bottom of the League for a majority of the season. The Sabres need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking along with getting shots on net since Freddie Andersen has been giving up some goals lately. Buffalo will need a solid 60 minute effort if they hope to gain two points in the standings.

The Leafs need to find a way to win in Buffalo. They lost lost 5-3 on March 5, which has been the only time the two teams have met so far this year. The Maple Leafs needs to get off to a good start by getting pucks on net, getting scoring chances, pressuring the Sabres players into turning the puck over. Toronto will want to be engaged in this game from the drop of the puck. The Leafs will want to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. Toronto will want to establish their forecheck and cycle game early and often in this one to keep the Sabres hemmed in their own zone.

The Leafs will need to get off to a fast start against the Canadiens on Saturday night. Toronto will need to pressure the puck carrier to force some turnovers. The Maple Leafs will want to limit their mistakes and get plenty of shots on goal.

The Canadiens will also want to get off to a good start and try to get the first goal of the game. The Habs will want to have the led entering the final period of the game. Montreal will need the starting goaltender to step up his game and make some saves to keep them in the game.

Sabres Slashes: Weekly Preview 3/11/18 - 3/17/18

The Buffalo Sabres veteran players will look to finish out the stretch run strong, while the young kids will look to make an impression for next season.

The Sabres only play twice this week and have off until Thursday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town. On Saturday they will take on the struggling and underachieving Chicago Blackhawks.

Buffalo will look to steal two points from the Maple Leafs when they come to town on Thursday night. The Sabres need to limit their mistakes with and without the puck since the Leafs have the ability to finish. Buffalo will want to play the game with some discipline since their penalty kill has been in the bottom of the League for a majority of the season. The Sabres need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking along with getting shots on net since Freddie Andersen has been giving up some goals lately. Buffalo will need a solid 60 minute effort if they hope to gain two points in the standings.

The Leafs need to find a way to win in Buffalo. They lost lost 5-3 on March 5, which has been the only time the two teams have met so far this year. The Maple Leafs needs to get off to a good start by getting pucks on net, getting scoring chances, pressuring the Sabres players into turning the puck over. Toronto will want to be engaged in this game from the drop of the puck. The Leafs will want to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. Toronto will want to establish their forecheck and cycle game early and often in this one to keep the Sabres hemmed in their own zone.

On Saturday, the Blackhawks will take on the Sabres. It will be a battle of two teams that have really struggled this year. Buffalo will need to take advantage of a struggling road penalty kill of the Blackhawks. The Sabres want to get off to a fast start and get plenty of pucks on net since goaltending hasn't exactly been Chicago's strong suit with Corey Crawford sidelined. They should try to have the lead entering the final period since they are 15-0-5 when leading after two periods. The Sabres need to get a good game from the starting goaltender.

The Blackhawks need to take advantage of playing a team below them in the standings, who could still be without their best player. Chicago needs to come out with a ton of energy to start the game and be willing to grind it out. The Blackhawks should try to take advantage of a not-so-hot penalty kill of the Sabres. Chicago needs to play a good defensive game and have the goalie make some saves. The Blackhawks need to get the first goal of the game.

Shooting Stars: Weekly Preview 3/11/18-3/17/18

The Dallas Stars will look to position themselves in a good spot for playoff contention with only four weeks left in the regular season. It won't be an easy week even though they will face some teams that will not make the playoffs, but will try to play the role of spoiler.

If the Stars want to gain some valuable points this week then they will have to do it on the road where they haven't play well this season. Dallas is currently in the first wild card position, but there are four teams that are not far behind them including the Avalanche, who are only two points behind them for that first wild card spot.

The Stars will start the week off facing the Penguins, who played in Toronto last night and lost. On Tuesday, they will face the Canadiens, who are looking to play the role of spoilers, so the Stars better be ready to play from puck drop. Dallas then will face the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, and finish the week off in Ottawa on Friday night.

The Stars want to take advantage of the fact that the Penguins are coming off of playing a game last night and had to travel after the game. Dallas needs to get off to a solid start by spending some time in the offensive zone and getting the forecheck and cycle game established early. The Stars will need to stay out of the penalty box with the Pens having the best power play in the League. Dallas will want to get a solid game from the goaltending since the Penguins will get their chances to score. The Stars should keep an eye on when and where Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin are on the ice since they have good career numbers against the Stars.

Pittsburgh needs to get off to a fast start themselves and make sure that they have the legs early in the game and feed of the energy of the crowd. The Penguins will need to find a way to stop the balanced lineup of the Stars. They should also try to have the lead entering the second period since they are only 5-19-2 when trailing after two periods, while Dallas is only 2-18-2 when trailing after two periods. The Pens need to keep an eye on Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza since they have a combined 62 points in their careers against the Penguins.

On Tuesday night, the Stars will visit the Canadiens, who have underachieved this year. Dallas should try to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. The Stars need to get off to a fast start and make sure they have some energy to start the game. Dallas should try to put a ton of pressure on the puck carrier and outnumber in board battles since the Habs will turn the puck over. The Stars need to be aware of when Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk are on the ice since they've done most of the damage for the Habs this year offensively.

Montreal needs to get the first goal of the game to get them off to a fast start. The Canadiens want to establish the forecheck early along with their cycle game since that is one way to stop the balanced lineup of the Stars. The goaltending will need to step up in a big way in this game to give the Habs a chance at stealing two points. The Canadiens need to keep an eye on Jason Spezza when he is on the ice since he has 69 points in 61 games played against them in his career.

The Stars will have a tough game on Wednesday night with it being the second game of a back-to-back situation and the opposition being the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dallas  will need to contain the speed of the Maple Leafs since they have plenty of it. The Stars want to play a good game in the neutral zone by limiting mistakes and turnovers. Dallas needs the goaltending to be very good in this game and not allow any soft goals. The Stars should watch Patrick Marleau since he has 65 career points in 101 games played against the Stars.

Toronto will want to use their speed in transition to create odd man rushes and draw penalties. The Leafs should try to get involved early in this game and create chances. The Maple Leafs need a good game from the goaltender with no soft goals and not allowing everything to get past him. Toronto should try to win the battle at even strength since this game could very well come down to even strength goals.

Dallas finishes their week on Friday against the Senators, who have been a big disappointment this year. The Stars need to win the special teams battle since the Senators are not good at special teams. Dallas should try to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. The Stars want to be patient with the puck, but not overly patient, because the Sens tend to black a lot of shots. Dallas will want to establish the forecheck and cycle game, and they'll also need to keep an eye on Mark Stone, since he is the leading point producer on the team.

The Senators should try to play a solid team defense with the gaps between the defense and forwards not too big. They'll need to avoid turnovers since the Stars have plenty of offensive fire power to score off those mistakes. Ottawa should stay out of the penalty box since the penalty kill has been awful this year. The Sens need to be better  all around and make sure that they are staying focused during the game. Ottawa will want to keep an eye on Tyler Seguin since he leads the Stars in points and goal.

3 Things: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Florida Panthers: 2/27/18

The Toronto Maple Leafs take on Atlantic Division foes, the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

Here are three things to watch for in the game:

1.) POWER PLAY- MAPLE LEAFS

The Leafs will want to take advantage of their power play opportunities since they pretty much play even with the opposition at even strength. The Leafs have two decent power play units, but are missing Auston Matthews, their leading goal scorer. Toronto's power play is operating at over 20% on the year. The Panthers penalty kill is one of the worst in the League at under 80%.

2.) START- PANTHERS

The Panthers will want to get off to a good start in this game to have some momentum to build off of for the rest of the game. Florida should set the tone early by getting the first goal of the game in front of the home crowd. The Panthers should establish the forecheck and cycle game early in the game to create chances and spend a ton of time in the offensive zone.

3.) FLORIDA TOP SIX- LEAFS & PANTHERS

The Leafs are going to need to find a way to stop the top six of the Panthers since those guys have basically carried the Panthers offense all year long. The best way to isolate them is to play in the offensive zone when they are on the ice. The Panthers want to get these guys going and early in the game so they have an impact on the rest of the game. Florida should try to establish the forecheck and cycle game to spend some time in the offensive zone. The battle between these two teams should be a good one.

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 2/25/18-3/3/18

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to carry the momentum of a big regulation win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday into the week.

The Leafs will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight with the puck dropping around 7:30. Toronto will then take on the Florida Panthers the following night. The Maple Leafs end the week with an outdoor game against the Washington Capitals. It won't be an easy week for the Leafs, but there is certainly potential to get some points.

The Maple Leafs need to get the first goal of the game to build momentum and take the home crowd out of the game. The Leafs should have their newest addition, Tomas Plekanec in the lineup tonight so that will add another good two way player to the mix. Toronto needs to play well while on special teams since they allow as much as they score when playing at even strength. The Maple Leafs want to get a good game out of goaltender, Freddie Andersen, who has been very good for most of this season. The Leafs will want to find a way to neutralize Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov since they are the leading point getters on the Lightning.

The Bolts need to come out with some energy in their game against the Leafs on Monday night since the teams are only separated by four points in the standings. The Lightning should try to play with some discipline since their penalty kill has struggled all season. Tampa Bay will need to neutralize the speed of the Maple Leafs especially through the neutral zone to avoid odd man rushes. The Bolts should try to get the forecheck game going often and early since the Leafs do tend to turn the puck over when under pressure. The Lightning will want to keep an eye on Mitch Marner, who has been on absolute fire of late, creating and scoring in the offensive zone because of his speed.

The Leafs need to establish a good forecheck against the Panthers and make sure that they roll all four lines since they will have played the night before. Toronto will need to stop the top six of the Panthers since they tend to produce a good amount of the points for Florida. The Mapple Leafs will need to play defense and not let the game become wide open. Toronto should take advantage of their power plays because the Panthers aren't a very good penalty killing team. The Leafs want to get pucks to the net with traffic in front since the goaltending hasn't exactly been great for Florida this year.

The Panthers need to get off to a good start and play with some energy because they don't want to fall behind by a lot early in the game. Florida should try to get the first goal of the game to keep the crowd in the game. The Panthers want to get a good game from the goalie since the Leafs tend to have some high quality scoring chances throughout a game. Florida will want to play with discipline and stay out of the penalty box while limiting their own mistakes.

Toronto then heads outside to face off against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night. The Leafs will want to keep the Capitals defense under pressure and force them into turning them puck over. The Maple Leafs need to get a big fame from the starting goalie since there will be some chances in this game that will feature two high flying offenses. Toronto should limit their mistakes, and see if they can get Tomas Plekanec involved often and early in the game. The Leafs need to be aware of Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom when they are on the ice.

The Caps also need to get a good game from the goaltending because the Leafs can use their speed in transition. Washington should try to get a ton of traffic in front of the Leafs net for deflections and to take the goalie's eyes off the puck. The Capitals will want to capitalize on the mistakes that the Leafs are going to make and keep pushing even if they get down in the game. They'll need to be aware of the defenseman Morgan Reilly and Jake Gardiner since they both like to get involved in the offensive zone. 

3 Things: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning 2/26/18

The Tampa Bay Lightning will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in a pivotal game in the Atlantic Division standings tonight.  The Leafs are just four points behind the Bolts, and both teams made deadline deals.

Here are three things to look for in tonight's game:

1.) SPECIAL TEAMS- MAPLE LEAFS

The Maple Leafs will need to have a stellar game on special teams since their even strength play isn't spectacular. They have allowed and scored 149 even strength goals this year. The Leafs need to keep the second best power play unit off the board, while taking advantage of one of the League's worst penalty kills. Toronto needs to apply a ton of pressure and get pucks on net when on the power play.

2.) FORECHECK- LIGHTNING

The Lightning should establish their forecheck game early and often against the Leafs. Toronto will turn the puck over and make mistakes when under pressure. The Bolts need to attack the puck carrier and make sure that he is under pressure when skating up the ice or trying to clear the defensive zone. Tampa Bay needs to be aware of being to overly aggressive though because that could lead to odd man rushes through the neutral zone for the Leafs, who have a ton of speed.

3.) MITCH MARNER VS. BRAYDEN POINT- LEAFS & LIGHTNING

Mitch Marner has been on absolute fire of late so much so that he went from being on the fourth line to now playing on the top line with Auston Matthews out of the lineup. Marner has gotten his confidence back and is creating and scoring goals because he is using his speed. Brayden Point has been an important part of the Bolts team since the beginning of the season. He plays even strength minutes and on the power play unit and now with the loss of Vladimir Namestnikov, he could see even more ice time. These two young kids will be two players to keep an eye on during tonight's game.

Lightning Strikes: Weekly Preview 2/25/18-3/3/18

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be busy this week since they have four games in six days. The good news is that three of those four games are at home.

The Lightning will start the week off with a game against Atlantic Division rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have won four straight games. On Wednesday night, the Evander Kane-less Buffalo Sabres will visit the Lightning with two points on the line. Then on Thursday night the Bolts will be in Dallas to take on the Stars, who are battling for a playoff spot. The Bolts will finish off the week with a game against the Flyers on Saturday afternoon at home.

The Bolts need to come out with some energy in their game against the Leafs on Monday night since the teams are only separated by four points in the standings. The Lightning should try to play with some discipline since their penalty kill has struggled all season. Tampa Bay will need to neutralize the speed of the Maple Leafs especially through the neutral zone to avoid odd man rushes. The Bolts should try to get the forecheck game going often and early since the Leafs do tend to turn the puck over when under pressure. The Lightning will want to keep an eye on Mitch Marner, who has been on absolute fire of late, creating and scoring in the offensive zone because of his speed.

The Maple Leafs need to get the first goal of the game to build momentum and take the home crowd out of the game. The Leafs should have their newest addition, Tomas Plekanec in the lineup tonight so that will add another good two way player to the mix. Toronto needs to play well while on special teams since they allow as much as they score when playing at even strength. The Maple Leafs want to get a good game out of goaltender, Freddie Andersen, who has been very good for most of this season. The Leafs will want to find a way to neutralize Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov since they are the leading point getters on the Lightning.

On Wednesday night, the last place Sabres come to town to take on the Bolts. The Lightning don't want to over look this Sabres team because that could cost them an important two points down the stretch. The Bolts should get the first goal of the game and be sure to put plenty of pressure on the Sabres since they tend to turn the puck over. The Lightning need to stay out of the penalty box even though the Sabres power play isn't one of the best, Tampa Bay's penalty kill is towards the bottom of the NHL.

Buffalo wants to play a solid road game while trying to play the role of spoiler. In order to play spoiler, they will need to make sure that they play solid defense the whole game. The Sabres need to get some good goaltending in this game since the Bolts tend to get their scoring chances. Buffalo should get off to a good start in this game with an early first goal and build their momentum from there. The Sabres need to figure out a way to get their struggling power play going and take advantage of the weak penalty kill of the Bolts.

The Bolts will travel to Dallas on Thursday night to take on the Stars, who are also battling it out for a playoff spot. The Lightning need to get a good game from the goaltender. They'll need to play a solid road game and keep the Stars in check at home, where they have been very good. The Bolts need to win the battle at even strength play since their special teams are only mediocre. Tampa Bay needs to keep an eye on Alexander Radulov and John Klingberg when they are on the ice because they can make it pretty chaotic out there.

The Stars need to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game. They will also need to play a good defensive game including the forwards. Dallas will need to get off to a good start, set the tone early in this one and get the first goal of the game. The Stars are going to need to find a way to get their power play going because they have too many good players on it for it to be struggling. The goalie is going to need to have a big game to keep his team in the game.

The Bolts need to play with discipline since their one weakness has been the penalty kill this year. Tampa Bay should get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game and have the momentum. The Lightning want to win the special teams battle since both teams play a solid even strength game. The Bolts goaltender will need to make some big saves throughout the game and make the easy saves too. Tampa Bay is going to need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Flyers by making them defend in their own zone.

 The Flyers will need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Lightning by spending some time in their offensive zone. The Orange and Black are going to want to play a solid road game and keep the defensive gap pretty small. Philly wants to make sure that they get a ton of traffic in front of the net for deflections and to take the goalie's eyes away from the puck. The Orange and Black want to limit their mistakes and get some solid goaltending.

3 Keys: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1/2/18)

The Tampa Bay Lightning will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in a big Atlantic Division game tonight. The puck is set to drop around 7:00 p.m.

Here are three keys to tonight's game:

1.) PENALTY KILL

If there is one weakness to the Tampa Bay Lightning it is their penalty kill, which is ranked 27th in the NHL. They have allowed 27 power play goals against while being shorthanded 125 times (78.4%). Their road penalty kill is actually worse at 77.6%. The Maple Leafs are a good penalty killing team overall, but are terrible killing penalties on home ice. Toronto has allowed 12 power play goals against while being shorthanded 52 times (76.9%). If either one of these teams wants to win the game tonight then one of the penalty kill units will have to step up or the two teams will need to play a very discipline game.

2.) DEFENSE

Toronto has a tendency to get a lead and then give it back up. They’ll need to make sure that they keep attacking, but not be over aggressive so they are out of position defensively. The Leafs will need to play a solid team defense game and make sure they help each other out especially the forwards. The Bolts have to be aware of the speed and creativity of the Leafs and not get caught out of position chasing them around the ice. The Lightning are also going to need to be aware of the odd man rushes that the Leafs can create.








3.) GOALTENDING

The Leafs are going to need a good game from Frederik Andersen since the Bolts will create and get pucks on net. They will really need Andersen to be their best penalty killer tonight since the Bolts can  really move the puck and create on the power play. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been the Bolts best player almost all year, and is putting up some Vezina-like numbers in the Bolts net. The goaltending is going to be really good tonight for both teams since they can put the puck in the net and create chances.

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 12/31/17-1/6/18

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a busy week with four games in seven days. They look to gain some ground on the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are in first place in the Atlantic Division, but it won't be easy.

On Sunday afternoon, the Leafs will take on the Vegas Golden Knights, who have only two regulation loses and one overtime loss at home so far. Toronto will then come home to face the Lightning on Tuesday night, which should be a good game. The San Jose Sharks will visit the Air Canada Centre on Thursday night, and they are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. On Saturday night, the Leafs will take on the Vancouver Canucks, who have been struggling lately.

The Maple Leafs have a tough task trying to win in Vegas since the Golden Knights are 15-2-1 on home ice this year. Toronto will need to play good team defense and not have a big gap between the forwards and defense, since the Golden Knights are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games played. The Leafs must stay focused, get tons of shots on net and have traffic around the net for second chance opportunities. The Maple Leafs needs to have a solid effort for 60 minutes and not have any lapses in judgment or play sloppy and turn the puck over. Toronto need to use their transition speed and be accurate with their passes. The Leafs need to figure out a way to stop the balanced attack of the Golden Knights, and one way to do that is to have a good forecheck game and sustained offensive pressure.

The Golden Knights will need to stay out of the penalty box since they are killing off less than 80% of the penalties taken, and the Leafs have the 5th best power play in the NHL. Vegas will need to get off to a fast start and play with good energy from the drop of the puck. The Golden Knights should try to force turnovers and pressure the puck carrier since the Leafs will turn the puck over and give up some decent scoring chances off of turnovers. Vegas will need the goaltending to be really good in order to win and not to let in any soft goals. The Golden Knights must find a way to stop Mitch Marner, who has been playing a lot better lately and creating with his speed.

On Tuesday night, it's going to be a big game against division rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Toronto must stay out of the penalty box since the Bolts have the best power play in the League. The Maple Leafs need to have the lead entering the final period since they have one win when trailing entering the third period. The Leafs must have a big game from the goaltender since the Bolts will have their chances and the goalie will need to come up with some big saves. Toronto should try to get off to a fast start, get the first goal, and keep the home crowd involved in the game early. The Maple Leafs must find a way to stop the duo of Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, who have dominated for the Lightning so far this year.

Tampa Bay must play with some discipline because they have one of the worse penalty kills the League, while the Leafs have one of the best power plays in the NHL. The Lightning need have the lead entering the final period since they only have two wins when trailing entering the third and final period of regulation. The Bolts should try to have some crisp passing and use the stretch pass to get some quick transition opportunities and odd man rushes. Tampa Bay need to limit their mistakes and turnovers because the Leafs will capitalize on them. The Bolts should get the first goal of the game to get the home crowd out of the game.

On Thursday night, the Sharks will visit the Leafs. The Maple Leafs want to be patient but have quick puck movement since the Sharks don't give up too many goals to the opposition. Toronto needs to get shots on goal with plenty of traffic in front of the net because the goalies for the Sharks are pretty good. The Leafs should try to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking the Sharks. The Maple Leafs need to have the lead entering the final period of the game. They will also want to find a way to stop Joe Thornton and Brent Burns, who can act like a fourth forward when he is out on the ice.

The Sharks will need to get some good goaltending from either Martin Jones or Aaron Dell. They should get their forecheck and cycle game going early and often. San Jose need to play with discipline and not take any dumb penalties. The Sharks will need to get off to a better start since they have been outscored in the first period of games by three goals. The Sharks must get traffic in front of the Leafs net because if the goalies can see the puck then they will likely stop it.

The Canucks come to town on Saturday night ending a tough week for the Leafs. Toronto must not play down to their opponent, who has two wins their last 10 games played. The Leafs want to take advantage of a weak penalty kill of the Canucks, and cash in on as many power play opportunities as they can. The Maple Leafs will want to find a way to shut down Brock Boeser, who has had an excellent rookie season so far. Toronto should force turnovers and finish their chances. The Leafs need to find a way to have a solid, 60 minute effort with no defensive lapses.

The Canucks will need to get the first goal of the game to build some confidence and help get off to a fast start. Vancouver must stay out of the penalty box and play with discipline. The Canucks want the goaltending and team defense to be on point, and not give up too many chances or goals. Vancouver should be aware of the speed and creativity of Mitch Marner. The Canucks need to play a solid, 60 minute road game and not give up too much to the Leafs.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 12/10/17-12/16/17

The Philadelphia Flyers look to extend their winning streak to four games after having four days off. It won't be an easy task as they face some good teams this week, but they will play in front of the home crowd all week.

On Tuesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town, and it won't be an easy task to get a win whether or not Auston Matthews is in the Leafs lineup. The Buffalo Sabres will visit the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night. The Flyers finish off their week against the Dallas Stars, who have struggled on the road so far this year.

The Flyers will need to keep the balanced scoring going that they have had the past three games. Philadelphia will ned to get the first goal of the game and build off of it. The Orange and Black will need to keep attacking and establish a good forecheck game early in the game to make the Leafs defend. The Flyers will need to limit their mistakes especially in the neutral zone since the Leafs have some good transition speed. Philly will need to keep James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner in check.

Toronto needs to find a way to stop the recently red hot Michael Raffl, who has scored five goals in his last eight games after scoring zero in his previous 42. The Leafs will need to get some good goaltending the Flyers can also get some pucks on net. The Maple Leafs will need to have a solid, road effort and get scoring from the depth lines. Toronto will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a good power play. They will also need to watch the Philly defense since they like to join the play in the offensive zone, and will pinch to keep a play alive.

The Flyers will need to keep the new look lines and balanced attack going against the Sabres. Philly needs to not play down to their opponent since they have been known to do this the past few years. The Flyers will need to get in on the attack, establish a forecheck early in the game and force a ton of turnovers throughout the game. The Orange and Black need to be better with the puck, and limit their mistakes since they have had plenty of costly turnovers lately. Philly needs to avoid the penalty box since the penalty kill has been in the bottom of the League all season long. The Flyers need to be aware of where Jack Eichel and Jason Pominville are on the ice.

Buffalo will need to get the first goal of the game since the Flyers are a better team when playing with the lead. The Sabres will need to keep attacking and get some sustained pressure in the offensive zone to keep the new balanced lines off the board for Philly. Buffalo will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a decent power play even though they have allowed four shorthanded goals against this year. The Sabres will need to keep Jake Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere in check since they play a big part in the offense. Buffalo will need to be aware of the Philadelphia defense since they have no problem joining the play in the offensive zone.

The Flyers will end their week playing the somewhat inconsistent Stars. Philadelphia will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Stars have a power play that can be dangerous. The Flyers will need to contain Tyler Seguin, who leads the Stars in both goals and total points. The Orange and Black will also need to pressure the puck carrier and force the Stars into making turnovers. Philly will need to limit their mistakes with and without the puck because the Stars can make you pay for your mistakes. The Flyers will need to be sure to get some traffic in front of the goalie, get a ton of shots on net and make sure that they have someone in front for rebound opportunities.

The Stars will need to somehow figure out a way to cure their road woes that they have had so far this year. It would help if they could play a solid, defensive, 60 minute game and avoid the mistakes. Dallas will need to find a way to keep Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier off the board since they have contributed a lot to the offense this year. The Stars will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a power play that can be dangerous. Dallas will need to get the forecheck and cycle game going early for a chance to get the first goal of the game, and make Philly play from behind.

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 12/10/17-12/16/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Leafs start their week off by facing Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Toronto then travels to Philly on Tuesday night to face a well rested Flyers team. The Leafs then travel to Minnesota to face the Wild on Thursday night. Toronto will end their week with a game against the Red Wings in Detroit.

The Leafs will need to stop Connor McDavid as they face the Oilers tonight at home. It seems if you slow down or stop him in a game then the Oilers offense gets stopped. The Maple Leafs will need to watch the Oilers defensemen since they can put up some points especially Darnell Nurse and Kris Russell. Toronto will need to take advantage of one of the worst penalty kills in the League by scoring some goals while on the man advantage. The Leafs will need to get a good game from backup goalie, Curtis McElhinney since he hasn't seen much action this year. The Maple Leafs will need to get the first goal of the game and have a solid defensive effort with no Auston Matthews and the backup goalie in tonight.

The Oilers will need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking. Edmonton will need to play team defense and get a forecheck game established early. The Oilers will need to avoid the penalty box since the Leafs have a very good power play that can be dangerous. Edmonton will want to have the lead entering the final period since they haven't lost a game when leading after two periods this year. The Oilers will need to get a good game from the backup goaltender and he will need to make some key saves since the Leafs can get pucks to the net.

Toronto needs to find a way to stop the recently red hot Michael Raffl, who has scored five goals in his last eight games after scoring zero in his previous 42. The Leafs will need to get some good goaltending the Flyers can also get some pucks on net. The Maple Leafs will need to have a solid, road effort and get scoring from the depth lines. Toronto will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a good power play. They will also need to watch the Philly defense since they like to join the play in the offensive zone, and will pinch to keep a play alive.

The Flyers will need to keep the balanced scoring going that they have had the past three games. Philadelphia will ned to get the first goal of the game and build off of it. The Orange and Black will need to keep attacking and establish a good forecheck game early in the game to make the Leafs defend. The Flyers will need to limit their mistakes especially in the neutral zone since the Leafs have some good transition speed. Philly will need to keep James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner in check.

The Leafs will need to get plenty of traffic in front of the Wild goalies because if they can see it then they will likely stop it. Toronto will need to establish a good forecheck early in the game. The Maple Leafs will need to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. The Leafs will need to stay out of the penalty box and find a way to stop Jason Zucker and Eric Staal.

The Wild need to get some sustained offensive pressure to stop the balanced attack of the Leafs. Minnesota will need to play solid defensive game, and have the forwards make sure that the gap isn't too big. The Wild need to get plenty of traffic in front of the net, and get the first goal of the game. Minnesota will need to be better in the first period of the game since they have been outscored by a goal in first periods of games. The Wild are going to need to find a way to stop Patrick Marleau and William Nylander.

The Maple Leafs finish off their week with a divisional game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Leafs will need to play a solid road game and limit their mistakes with the puck. Toronto will need to find a way to keep Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha off the board since they are the two leading scorers on the team. The Leafs will need to get traffic in front of the net and get pucks on net. The Leafs needs to stay out of the penalty box, and keep playing the way they've been play all season at even strength.

The Red Wings will need to play better while at even strength since they have been outscored 66-51 so far. They will need to play a discipline game, and stay out of the penalty box. Detroit will need to watch the transition game of the Leafs since they have plenty of speed. The Red Wings will need to limit their mistakes and play a solid defensive game.

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 11/19/17-11/25/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be a busy bunch this week with four games in six days. They will look to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are first in the Atlantic Division.

The Leafs will take on the lowly Arizona Coyotes on Monday night at home. They will then travel to Florida to take on the Panthers, who are seventh in the Atlantic Division. Toronto will visit the Hurricanes on Friday. The Maple Leafs will end their week on Saturday with a rematch of last year's playoffs and face the Capitals at home.

Toronto wants to make sure that they don't look past the Coyotes on Monday night, Yes, the Coyotes are the worst team in the League, but you never know when a team is going to come play. The Maple Leafs are going to have to use their speed since the Coyotes have some of their own players that can fly around on the ice. The Leafs need to cash in on their power play chances because the Coyotes aren't the best penalty killing team around. Toronto needs to get pucks on net when they have the chance since the Coyotes tend to let up a lot of goals. The Maple Leafs will need to find a way to contain Clayton Keller, who leads Arizona in goals and points, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson leads the team in assists.

The Coyotes are going to want to establish the forecheck early in this game along with their cycle game because the longer they make the Leafs defend, the better their chances. Arizona will need to be sure to get traffic and bodies in front of Frederik Andersen since he is coming off of a week where he was named the NHL's second star of the week. The 'Yotes will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Leafs have a dangerous power play, and they will also need to find a way to play a solid defensive road game. The Coyotes are going to need to find a way to stop Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

The Maple Leafs will need to be sure to get off to a fast start against the Panthers on Wednesday night. They will want to get the first goal of the game, and keep attacking. Toronto needs to find a way to keep Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, Evegny Dadonov and Vincent Trocheck in-check since they are the main point producers for the team. The Leafs need to get another good start from the goalies since the defense is going to allow chances and turn the puck over. Toronto needs to make sure that they play with discipline because the Panthers can be dangerous on the power play especially their first unit.

Florida will need to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game. The Panthers need to get off to a better start in this game since they've been outscored 16-13 in the first period of games, and the Leafs have scored 28 first period goals. Florida will need to establish the fore-check early and be aggressive by trying to keep the puck in the offensive zone. The Cats will need to pressure the puck carrier since the Leafs will turn the pucks over whether its in the neutral zone or their own zone. Florida will need to have a lead entering the third period since they only have two third period comebacks in 11 chances. They also should try to contain Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk, who are second and third in points on the team.

The Leafs need to play a solid road game against the Hurricanes, avoid the sloppiness and turnovers. Toronto will need to be good while at even strength since the Hurricanes tend to outscore their opponents when five-on-five. The Maple Leafs will need to take advantage of their power play opportunities since the Canes aren't the best penalty killing teams on home ice. Toronto needs to have some consistency within the game and not have a lapse where they aren't focused. The Leafs will also need to contain the red-hot Teuvo Teravainen, who was named the NHL's first star of the week.

The Hurricanes will need to watch out for the Leafs defensemen joining the play in the offensive zone. Carolina should try to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in it, and because they play better when they score the first goal of the game. The Hurricanes will need to be better on special teams especially on the penalty kill since the Leafs have a really good power play. Carolina will need to figure out a way to stop the balanced lineup of the Leafs, and a good way to do that would be to make the Leafs defend. The goalie is going to need to come up big for the Hurricanes since the Leafs are scoring almost four goals per game played.

Toronto will end their week with a rematch of last year's first round of the postseason against the Capitals. The Maple Leafs will need to find a way to contain Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Toronto will need to get plenty of traffic around the opposing net for deflections and second  chances. The Leafs will also need to feed off the energy of the crowd and get off to a fast start. The special teams of the Leafs are going to need to be good as will the goaltending.

The Capitals will need to figure out a way to stop the balanced attack of the Maple Leafs. They will also need to be aware of the speed of the Leafs. The Capitals will need for pressure the puck carrier and force turnovers. Washington will also need to play a physical game, but be smart of when to hit and when not to make the hit. The Caps will also need to establish a fore-check and cycle game to have some sustained offensive zone pressure.

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 11/12/17-11/18/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs will only play two games this week, and that could either help them or hurt them.

The Leafs will take on the New Jersey Devils at home on Thursday night and then travel to Montreal to take on the Canadiens, who could still be without goaltender Carey Price. The Leafs will have a chance to get some more points and try to stay on pace with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division.





The Leafs will need to find a way to stop the balanced lineup of the Devils since they have five regulars in the lineup with 10 or more points. Toronto will need to limit their mistakes and spend a good amount of time in the offensive zone. The Maple Leafs can spend a lot of time in the offensive zone by having a good forecheck game, getting the cycle game going and moving the puck quickly and crisply. The Leafs need to find a way to stop Taylor Hall and Will Butcher, who have been the top scoring forward and defenseman for the Devils this year. Toronto will need to figure out a way to get the puck into the back of the net since the goalies have been good this year for New Jersey. They will want to get traffic in front, deflect some pucks, be in the slot for rebounds and work from behind the net.

New Jersey will want to get the first goal of the game and make the Leafs come from behind. The Devils will want to find a way to stop Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly, who are both having decent seasons so far. If the Devils get down ten they need to keep attacking because the Leafs will give up some goals when they have the lead. New Jersey just needs to get pucks on net since the goaltending has been a bit shaky for the Leafs. The Devils will need to make sure that they have the lead entering the final period of the game.

The Maple Leafs will have an opportunity to pick up an important two points within the division on Saturday night. They have played okay on the road, but have played much better at home. Toronto will need to get pucks on net especially if Carey Price is still out injured for the Habs, or just coming off of injury. The Leafs need to get the first goal of the game and start putting doubts in the minds of the Habs players, and that also goes into getting off to a fast start. Toronto will need to play a solid, defensive 60 minute road game and that might not happen since the defense hasn't been great all season. The Leafs need to find a way to stop Jonathan Drouin and Shea Weber.

The Canadiens will need to get pucks on net to generate chances and make sure that players are in position for second chance opportunities. Montreal  will need to get the lead and keep attacking because if they sit back or start making mistakes then the Leafs will make them pay by using their speed to score goals. The Habs will need to get off to a better start in this game then they have in other games this year since they have been outscored handily in first periods of games. Montreal will need to find a way to contain James van Riemsdyk and Patrick Marleau, who have been able to produce points at a decent rate this year. The defense of the Canadiens are going to need to be in good position, and the gap control will need to be good between the forwards and defense so the Leafs can't force too many turnovers.

3 Keys: Maple Leaf @ Bruins-11/11/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Boston Bruins on Saturday night in the second half of a home-and-home series. The Leafs could be without Auston Matthews since he has an upper body injury.

Here are three keys to the game:

1.) GET 1ST GOAL- MAPLE LEAFS

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to have a good start to the game, and that includes getting the first goal of the game. They'll need to get the first goal to take the home crowd out of the game, and because the Bruins are a better team when they score the first goal of the game. The Leafs will need to establish an early forecheck and cycle game in the first 10 minutes of the game. The more they are in the offensive zone, the less that they'll have to defend and that means less shots on goal for the goalies to try to stop. Toronto needs keep attacking once they get a goal because these are important points in the division that are up for grabs.

2.) ATTACK TORONTO DEFENSE- BRUINS

The Bruins needs to attack the Leafs defense and make them turn the puck over. Boston needs to win races to pucks and get in behind Toronto's defense to make plays to get some offensive zone time and scoring chances. The Leafs will turnover the puck, and the Bruins need to take advantage of the turnovers. Toronto's defense has not been the best in the League this year, and if they are pressured with their time and space taken away then they will make mistakes. Boston needs to make sure that they force those turnovers and capitalize on them.

3.) MITCH MARNER VS. DAVID PASTRNAK- LEAFS & BRUINS

The Maple Leafs are going to need for Mitch Marner to play his game, and not worry about how he has only scored one goal in 17 games played this year. Marner needs to create with his speed, and get the puck on net so the goals will come. The Bruins will need the production that they have had all season from David Pastrnak. Pastrnak has nine goals, seven assists and 16 points in 14 games played this year. He will need to keep crashing the net, and use his speed to get to the net.

3 Keys: Bruins @ Maple Leafs- 11/10/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs will play host to the Boston Bruins tonight. The Leafs are coming off of a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night, while the Bruins are coming off of a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

Here are three keys to this Atlantic Division matchup:

1.) EVEN STRENGTH PLAY- MAPLE LEAFS

The Leafs are going to need to play a solid game at even strength and avoid costly turnovers. The Bruins are in the top six of the NHL in both power play and penalty kill percentage. Toronto has played okay at even strength but could be better this year. Auston Matthews missed Wednesday's game with an upper body injury, and could very well miss both of the home-and-home game with the Bruins. should that happen then players need to step up to help produce. The Maple Leafs will need to be strong on the puck, win the board battles and establish a forecheck early in the game to win the battle at even strength.

2.) SPECIAL TEAMS- BRUINS

The Bruins have been very good on special teams this season so far, and that will need to continue against the Leafs. Boston is has converted on 12 of its 51 power play opportunities, but they have also given up two shorthanded goals. The Bruins power play is operating at 23.5%, which is good for sixth in the League. Boston have only allowed six power play goals against while being shorthanded 48 times this year, and they have also scored twice while on the penalty kill. The Bruins will need to continue its stellar special teams play since the Leafs have a decent power play themselves, and can put the puck in the net.

5.) GOALTENDING- MAPLE LEAFS & BRUINS

The goalies for each team have been decent this season, but they could be better in making some timely saves. Tuukka Rask has been the main goalie for the Bruins this year and is 3-5-2 is 10 games played this year. He has a 2.76 goals against average, .903 save percentage and as allowed 27 goals. Anton Khudobin is 3-0-1 in five games played, and has a 2.52 goals against and a .926 save percentage. Frederik Andersen is 9-6-0 in 15 games this year to go with a 3.33 goals against and .898 save percentage. Andersen has let in some soft goals this year at key times during games. Curtis McElhinney has only played in two games, and has allowed eight goals.

Rapid Review: 10/29/17-11/4/17

It was a busier week for some teams than others in the NHL last week. Some teams managed to have a really good week while others just couldn't find any consistency, or found consistency, but not in a good way.

Here is a recap of the week for the teams covered in this blog:

1.) BUFFALO SABRES (1-1-0)

The Sabres came out and beat a team that they were supposed to, and lost to a better team. Buffalo beat the Arizona Coyotes by a score of 5-4, but almost blew the game by allowing the Coyotes to score three goals in the final 7:49 of the game. The Sabres got off to yet another slow start and were down 4-0 after the first period against the Stars. Robin Lehner was pulled after allowing four goals on seven shots. The Sabres need to get better defensively and have the goalies make some saves for them.

2.) DALLAS STARS (2-1-0)

The Dallas Stars started the week with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Ben Bishop had 38 saves and Alexander Radulov score the game-winning goal in OT. The Stars then gave up five goals to the Winnipeg Jets in a game where Mark Schiefele had a hat trick. Dallas just didn't play well in Winnipeg and the game couldn't end fast enough. The Stars ended their week by rebounded and beating the Sabres by a 5-1 score after jumping out to a 4-0 lead after the first period.

3.) NASHVILLE PREDATORS-(2-1-0) 

The Preds were on the West Coast and managed to come out of it with a winning record. The Preds lost to the San Jost Sharks, 3-2, even after playing a majority of the game down a man. Nashville then beat the Anaheim Ducks, who were without some key players, by taking an early 4-1 lead and then  never looking back. The Predators ended their week at the Staples Center visiting the Los Angeles Kings. Nashville blew a 3-0 lead but then won the game in overtime.

4.) PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (1-1-2)

The Flyers didn't have a good week overall, on the ice and with all the injuries to their defensemen. On Monday night, the Flyers were the victims of the Coyotes first win of the season, after battling back to tie the game late, the Flyers lost in overtime. The Flyers dominated the Blackhawks on Wednesday night, but just couldn't finish and lost another defenseman to injury. Philadelphia then played the Blues on Thursday night, and with a depleted defense corps, managed to win 2-0, after a stellar performance in net by Michal Neuvirth. The Orange and Black ended their week with another overtime loss, this time to the Colorado Avalanche, even though Shayne Gostisbehere returned to the lineup.

5.) TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (2-0-1)

The Bolts managed to have a very good week with their only loss coming in overtime. The Lightning do need to tighten up on defense because they are blowing too many leads. Tampa Bay is going to need some production from Tyler Johnson and need to keep the balanced scoring in the lineup. The Bolts need to stop relying on its offense and Andrei Vasilevskiy to win games, and play some defense.

6.) TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (1-3-0)

The Leafs were a little undisciplined last week and need to play better to stay out of the box. The Maple Leafs need to play complete games and stop sitting back after they get a two or three goal lead since they let the other team back in the game. Once they get the lead, Toronto needs to keep being aggressive. Toronto was doomed by its bad defense and bad goaltending. The goalies need to start stopping some pucks and not allowing the soft goal.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 10/22/17-10/28/17

The Philadelphia Flyers are looking to continue their winning ways both at home and on the road this week.

The Flyers will face the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night at home. They will then take on the stingy Senators in Ottawa before ending the week in Toronto to face the fast-paced Maple Leafs.

Philly will need to take advantage of the injuries that the Ducks have had early in this season. The Orange and Black need to keep an eye on the Andrew Cogliano, Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg since they have a combined 12 points. The Flyers need to get the first goal of the game since they have yet to lose this year when scoring first. Philly will need to be sure to get pucks on the net with traffic in front and to elevate the puck. The Flyers need to be careful when on the power play because the Ducks do have three shorthanded goals on the season.

The Ducks need to get the first goal of the game because they haven't lost a game yet this season when scoring first. Anaheim needs to get off to a decent start and attack the young Philly defense since there will be new pairings, and the top pairing will be young. They will have to get traffic in front of the net, and be in front for rebounds because the Philadelphia goalies will allow them. Anaheim needs to keep an eye on Wayne Simmonds, who leads the team in goals, and Shayne Gostisbehere, who leads the team in points. The Ducks also need to not go out of their way for the big hit because Philly has the speed to make them pay for that this year.

The Orange and Black need to not let the Senators bore them and make them lose focus on what is going on around them. The Sens tend to play a very boring style, but the Flyers can attack them with their speed and quick puck movement out of the zone. Philly will need to stop a balanced Ottawa attack by getting their cycle game going and spending some time in the offensive zone. The Flyers should try to get a ton of traffic and shots on goal because if keep putting pucks on net then will eventually get some good chances. The Orange and Black need to have a solid defensive road game while pushing the pace.

Ottawa needs to get the first goal of the game and feed off the home crowd. The Senators need to keep an neutralize the balanced attack of the Flyers by spending some time in the offensive zone. The Sens will need to establish the forecheck game early and attack the Philly defense. This would be a good game to try and get the home power play going for the Senators since the Flyers don't have a good road penalty kill.

Toronto ends its week with a visit from the Flyers to the ACC. The Leafs need to be aware of the Flyers speed, and stay out of the penalty box. They will need to take care of the rookies that are playing on the blue line, and the potential of new pairs since Andrew MacDonald is out 4-6 weeks with a lower body injury. The Maple Leafs need to get the first goal since the Flyers have yet to win a game when their opponent nets the first goal. The Leafs are going to need to keep an eye on the top line of the Flyers, and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who heading into this week lead the team with 11 points.

The Flyers will need to get off to a fast start and get the first goal of the game. Philly can neutralize the speed of the Maple Leafs by spending time in the offensive zone with a good cycle and forecheck game. The Orange and Black need to bring the balanced attack that they have all season long to wear down the Leafs. The Flyers need to take advantage when they are up a man because Toronto doesn't have the best home penalty kill percentage (76.5%). Philly will need to win the even strength play, which is an area where they have been much better at this season as opposed to last season.

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 10/22/17-10/28/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to take advantage of having home ice this week for three games.

The Leafs will take on LA Kings, who have yet to lose in regulation, tonight. The Carolina Hurricanes will visit the Air Canada Centre on Thursday night. Toronto ends its week by taking on the Philadelphia Flyers in a Saturday night matchup.

The Leafs look to hand the Kings their first loss of the season, but it won't be easy to accomplish. The Maple Leafs are going to need to bring its balanced attack, and bring it throughout the game. They just can't get a lead, and then sit back. A way to stop the Kings is for the Leafs to use their speed through the neutral zone to force the Kings defensemen to back into their own zone and not be able to stand up at the blue line. Toronto needs to move the puck quickly, but also be smart in their decision-making. The Maple Leafs are going to need to watch out for Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, who are tied for the lead in points on the Kings. The Leafs will all five players on the ice at any give time to be better defensively, which has been a problem early in the season.

Los Angeles can slow down the speed of the Leafs by attacking the defensemen with a good forecheck game, and then go to work on the cycle game to keep the puck in the offensive zone. The Kings are going to need to have a good, solid defensive effort from everyone on the ice including the forwards. If the Kings can get their road power play going against the weak Leafs home power play then that would be a bonus, and help the Kings to another two points. Los Angeles needs to play the game with discipline since Toronto has a really good power play. The Kings will need to keep an eye on Auston Matthews, who leads the team in goals and points.

The Maple Leafs will have two days off before facing the Hurricanes. Toronto needs to make sure that they have the lead at intermission since the Hurricanes are a better team when they are playing with the lead rather than chasing it. The Leafs should try to capitalize on their chances because Carolina doesn't seem to give up a whole lot. The Leafs want to win the even strength battle, which they've been doing for most of the season. Toronto needs to come into the game with the mentality that they are going to play a full 60 minute hockey game since their problem has been that they tend to get comfortable with the lead, and then get outplayed in the second period.

The Canes need to get the first goal of the game to take the crowd out of it. They need to bring a balanced attack because they won't beat the Leafs with just one or two lines producing. Carolina is getting shots, but they just need to learn to finish. The Hurricanes will need to keep attacking if they get down because the Leafs do tend to allow teams to get back into games.

Toronto ends its week with a visit from the Flyers to the ACC. The Leafs need to be aware of the Flyers speed, and stay out of the penalty box. They will need to take care of the rookies that are playing on the blue line, and the potential of new pairs since Andrew MacDonald is out 4-6 weeks with a lower body injury. The Maple Leafs need to get the first goal since the Flyers have yet to win a game when their opponent nets the first goal. The Leafs are going to need to keep an eye on the top line of the Flyers, and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who heading into this week lead the team with 11 points.

The Flyers will need to get off to a fast start and get the first goal of the game. Philly can neutralize the speed of the Maple Leafs by spending time in the offensive zone with a good cycle and forecheck game. The Orange and Black need to bring the balanced attack that they have all season long to wear down the Leafs. The Flyers need to take advantage when they are up a man because Toronto doesn't have the best home penalty kill percentage (76.5%). Philly will need to win the even strength play, which is an area where they have been much better at this season as opposed to last season.