Maple Leafs release projected lines for what could be the series clincher
PUBLICATION
TJ Tucker
April 27, 2023 (2:09 PM)
Safe to say, this is the Toronto Maple Leafs most important game this year, and maybe of the last few years. Leading the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 in their opening round playoff series, the Maple Leafs have a chance to do something tonight the team hasn't done in years; make it to the second round. With the all-important game just hours away, Toronto has released it's projected lineup for tonight.
Michael Bunting, who is now eligible to return from a suspension he earned in game 1, will sit as a healthy scratch so rookie Matthew Knies, who has impressed Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe mightily, can continue to play. Here's what Keefe will be going with as they look to eliminate the Bolts:
Forwards
Calle Järnkrok � Auston Matthews � William Nylander
Matthew Knies � John Tavares � Mitch Marner
Alex Kerfoot � Ryan O'Reilly � Noel Acciari
Zach Aston-Reese � David Kämpf � Sam Lafferty
Defence
Jake McCabe � T.J. Brodie
Mark Giordano � Justin Holl
Morgan Rielly � Luke Schenn
Goaltenders
Ilya Samsonov
Joseph Woll
While game 5, which starts at 7 PM ET, is not technically a must win for Toronto, you have to think the last thing the team wants to do is start faltering with a 3-1 series lead once again. This one should be very interesting.
POLL |
Will the Leafs close it out tonight? |
Yes, finally on to the second round | 245 | 60.8 % |
No, Tampa Bay still has life | 81 | 20.1 % |
The Leafs will lose the next three straight | 50 | 12.4 % |
Not sure | 27 | 6.7 % |
List of polls |
|
4 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Two Maple Leafs Defensemen Emerging As The Team's Top Pair: Statistics Suggest Craig Berube Has Struck Gold |
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5 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Hard-Hitting Center with Elite Faceoff Skills Could Add Depth and Grit to Toronto's Lineup |
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7 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Hockey Legend Jaromir Jagr Caught in Legal Trouble |
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8 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Predators GM Barry Trotz Threatens his Team After Slow Start: "I'm Going to Start Our Rebuild Plan" |
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9 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Maple Leafs Thrive Without Auston Matthews, Former GM Brian Burke Mockingly Suggests: Trade Him! |
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10 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Maple Leafs Forward Returns to the Ice: What Does It Mean for the Team? |
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12 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Craig Berube Reveals David Kampf's Fate With the Toronto Maple Leafs |
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12 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Matthew Knies Compared to 50-Goal Scorer: His Upside is Higher Than Expected |
Previously on HockeyPatrol