![]() This should be a good test for a Leafs team missing its number-one center. ![]() Advertisementsīetween their sticks heating up offensively and Saros rolling in net, the Predators’ 1.039 PDO in their last 10 games ranks third in NHL. He sits second behind only Linus Ullmark in goals saved above expected at +20.0 through 30 games and is 6-1-1 with a. ![]() Juuse Saros is starting over 75% of his team’s games again this season and remains a model of consistency between the pipes. In net, the shortest starting goalie in the NHL remains a giant presence for the Predators. Winners of four straight and 7-1-2 in their 10 games, the Predators are led by the red-hot Filip Forsberg, who has seven goals in seven games, and their scoring depth has been much improved of late - 11 players have recorded four or more points in their last seven. One of the lowest-scoring teams in the league for the first 29 games (2.41 goals per game), Nashville has come to life offensively since mid-December with 3.64 goals per game in their last 10. The test without Matthews will come against an opponent in the Predators that is on the outside looking in on the playoff picture but is in the midst of its best stretch of hockey this season. He reportedly told Keefe that the shift to center is a positive because “it’s going to force me to move my feet again.” Individually, Nylander is without a point in his last three games for the first time this season. If it doesn’t go so well, it only underlines the need for whatever forward the team adds before the deadline to be either a natural center or a versatile enough winger to provide good minutes there. If it looks really good, it’s more of a credible option should an injury strike one of their top-six centers at a critical time of year. In Matthews’ absence, Nylander taking center reps is a worthwhile mid-season exercise. Injuries have been successfully navigated for the Leafs so far this season and turned into opportunities to expose players to more or different responsibilities. We can expect shared center duties between Engvall and Nylander - for Engvall to take left-side faceoffs (Engvall’s strong side and Nylander’s weak side) and also assume center duties in open play at times to give Nylander the license to really drive this line offensively. ![]() Pierre Engvall, usually the right winger on that Kampf line, will be moved onto a unit with Michael Bunting and William Nylander at center. He brings a kind of lite power forward skill set to the table with a heavy shot, a willingness to drive the net, and an intriguing size and speed combination. ![]() The 26-year-old undrafted left-shot winger - who started on an AHL deal and earned the NHL contract after a couple of years of development on the Growlers/ Marlies, similar to the Justin Holl or Keith Petruzzelli track - has racked up five goals and nine points in his last six games for the Marlies. Matthews receiving a night off due to a “lingering” injury issue has paved the way for the NHL debut of Bobby McMann tonight on a line with Alex Kerfoot and David Kampf. The Maple Leafs will be without Auston Matthews as they attempt to make it three wins in a row against the surging Nashville Predators tonight at Scotiabank Arena (7:30 p.m. ![]()
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