Kucherov and Point return as the Maple Leafs get a real test against the Lightning
Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Both Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point make their return to the Lightning lineup as the Maple Leafs will still be tested even as Tampa is without Andrei Vasilevskiy.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs head into a critical game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, they have a bit of luck on their side at least when it comes to who they face in net, as the Lightning will be without Andrei Vasilevskiy on Monday night after placing him on the IR.
However, with one lost body comes two more into the lineup as the team will have both Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point back in the lineup after missing Dec 6th's game against the New York Islanders.
How the Lightning are projected to line up vs. Maple Leafs
While there is nothing confirmed from the Lightning themselves regarding a lineup, you can expect to see Point back on the top line. They may decide to swap Kucherov with Nick Paul to overload the Maple Leafs.
Here's how Tampa is projected to likely line up against the Maple Leafs on Monday night (per Daily Faceoff):
Forwards
Jake Guentzel - Brayden Point - Nick Paul
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Nikita Kucherov
Pontus Holmberg - Yanni Gourde - Zemgus Girgensons
Gage Goncalves - Jack Finley - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Jake Guentzel - Brayden Point - Nick Paul
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Nikita Kucherov
Pontus Holmberg - Yanni Gourde - Zemgus Girgensons
Gage Goncalves - Jack Finley - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Maxwell Crozier
JJ Moser - Darren Raddysh
Charle-Edouard D'Astous - Emil Lilleberg
Victor Hedman - Maxwell Crozier
JJ Moser - Darren Raddysh
Charle-Edouard D'Astous - Emil Lilleberg
Goaltenders
Starter: Jonas Johansson
Brandon Halverson
Starter: Jonas Johansson
Brandon Halverson
Toronto will get to see Pontus Holmberg back in town as he plays his first game versus his old team, and will try and shut down his scrappy and physical line with Yanni Gourde and Zemgus Girgensons.
How the Maple Leafs are projected to line up vs. Lightning
However, the Maple Leafs will counter with a projected lineup that has a couple of changes (per Daily Faceoff):
Forwards
Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Max Domi
Easton Cowan - John Tavares - William Nylander
Dakota Joshua - Nicolas Roy - Bobby McMann
Steven Lorentz - Scott Laughton - Calle Jarnkrok
Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Max Domi
Easton Cowan - John Tavares - William Nylander
Dakota Joshua - Nicolas Roy - Bobby McMann
Steven Lorentz - Scott Laughton - Calle Jarnkrok
Defensemen
Morgan Rielly- Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe - Troy Stecher
Simon Benoit - Dakota Mermis
Morgan Rielly- Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe - Troy Stecher
Simon Benoit - Dakota Mermis
Goaltenders
Starter: Dennis Hildeby
Artur Akhtyamov
Starter: Dennis Hildeby
Artur Akhtyamov
Toronto will have Nick Robertson out and Calle Jarnkrok in, while Scott Laughton, who missed practice, is expected to still slot in on the fourth line.
Dakota Mermis also gets the call over Philippe Myers. The Maple Leafs will again call upon Dennis Hildeby to patrol the crease.
What this means for the Maple Leafs
Regardless of whether Point and Kucherov are back, the Maple Leafs can't let their foot off the gas. While they had a slow start against Montreal, they must play as they have been the last week and a half.
That means winning puck battles, forechecking relentlessly, being physical and crashing the net. With Vasilevskiy out, Toronto has a chance to pounce on Johansson and pelt him with shots while creating havoc in the crease.
This will also give Toronto a chance to prove that even though they may be lower in the standings, they can still hang with the elite teams and shut down Tampa Bay, even if both the Maple Leafs and Lightning are missing key pieces.
Come playoff time, it's highly unlikely that both teams are going to be 100% heading into things and if they meet later on, this game on Monday night could be a perfect early-season test to see if they can hang with them later on in April.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 8 | 996 ANSWERS Kucherov and Point return as the Maple Leafs get a real test against the Lightning Should Toronto worry about Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point? | ||
| Yes | 390 | 39.2 % |
| No | 606 | 60.8 % |
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