The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced their lineup against Nashville on Tuesday, and as the team continues to roll with the same group - it could cause some issues.
The Maple Leafs and Predators face off on Tuesday night in Toronto's fourth consecutive home game to start the season. They are coming off a tough loss to the Senators on Saturday as questions about their lineup start to come up.
Maple Leafs still refuse to change against the Predators
However, there was a potential for Jim Hiller to change things up ahead of the game vs. Nashville, and it may be imperative if he wants to get Gavin McKenna going. Though, from the looks of the lineup as warm-ups took place - it's more of the same from the Maple Leafs:
Marchenko-Matthews-Roslovic
McKenna-Tavares-Nylander
Cowan-Paul-Sissons
Duhaime-Blueger-Groulx
McCabe-Tanev
Rielly-Raddysh
Ekman-Larsson-Stecher
Stolarz
Bobrovsky
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The only real change for the Maple Leafs is that they are going to have Anthony Stolarz start despite giving Sergei Bobrovsky a few days rest. Stolarz is responsible for the Maple Leafs' only win so far this season, and he will look to make it two in a row for himself.
How will the second line bounce back on Tuesday night?
The big story here is the second line of McKenna - Tavares - Nylander and whether they can respond better to their start to the season. They are giving up way too many chances and not getting early enough of their own, and things need to turn around quickly.
If they are able to set the tone early, perhaps get a couple of points in the first period, then things will hopefully settle in easier for everyone and the Maple Leafs will end up scoring more than two goals this season - as has been the case for every game thus far.
There's only one way to really know if the Maple Leafs are going to be prepared for the Predators, and that's by watching how they'll respond coming off a loss. Otherwise, we can only hope that they are ready for whatever comes hurling at them on Tuesday night.
Who will win in the battle of Nashville vs. Toronto?
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