Toronto Maple Leafs
Projected Maple Leafs’ Lineup for Kings’ Game Tonight & Commentary
The Toronto Maple Leafs play the Los Angeles Kings later today. What lineup changes is coach Sheldon Keefe making for the game?
As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to face the Los Angeles Kings tonight, head coach Sheldon Keefe has seemed to upset the fruit basket with the team’s lineup. There were a number of changes evident from practice that, if this represents what Maple Leafs’ fans will likely see, will be new.
The team will be trying to rebound from a 4-3 overtime loss at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. They went behind 3-1 on two power-play goals; and, while they tried to battle back from that two-goal deficit they only were able to tie it up. They lost less than a minute gone in overtime.
It was their second straight-road game loss.
Related: Maple Leafs Tough Loss to Sharks Isn’t Without Positives
Forward Groupings
There will be a number of changes among the forward units.
Even after Alex Kerfoot’s success (he registered two assists) with the first line, coach Keefe is going back to the tried-and-true line combination of Michael Bunting, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner. Kerfoot slides down to the second line to take Nick Robertson’s spot on the left wing.
Robertson will stay in the lineup but will move to the left-wing spot on the third line. That line has changed the most. Calle Jarnkrok will move to the center position, and Wayne Simmonds (who played in Los Angeles with the Kings for several seasons) will join them on the right wing.
The fourth line will only see one change from Thursday’s game in San Jose. Zach Aston-Reese will be a healthy scratch and Nicolas Aube Kubel will draw in on the right wing.
The other healthy scratch will be Denis Malgin.
Related: Four Takeaways from Maple Leafs’ 4-3 Loss to the Sharks
Friday’s Line Combinations from Practice
The Defense
On defense, Morgan Rielly will stay with TJ Brodie. Rasmus Sandin will partner with Justin Holl. The real change will be that Filip Kral was taking first reps and might make his NHL debut tomorrow. Keefe noted that he wanted to get Kral into a game on this trip.
In Goal
It looks as if goalie Ilya Samsonov is over whatever his illness was and will be back in the net tomorrow. He has been in the net for all four of the Maple Leafs’ wins on the season.
Related: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY IN MAPLE LEAFS OT LOSS TO SHARKS
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