Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Maple Leafs Game Day - Game 20: Capitals vs. Leafs

November 19, 2011, 12:30 PM ET [ Comments]
Ken Beckett
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
With three-straight losses on the books, the Toronto Maple Leafs look to turn it around as they return home for a Saturday night match-up with Alex Ovechkin and the similarly struggling Washington Capitals.

This is the first of four meetings between the two teams this season. During the 2010-11 season, Washington took three of four from the Leafs, however three of the four games went to a shootout.

Toronto suffered their third loss in a row on Thursday with a 4-1 road defeat to the Nashville Predators as Pekka Rinne made 38 saves to stymie the Leafs. The loss is also the Blue and White's fifth in six games, having been outscored 26-8 during that stretch.

In addition to a loss in the standings, the Leafs also lost two more players to injury. Mike Komisarek suffered a broken arm that requires surgery, forcing him out of the lineup for two months. Matthew Lombardi meanwhile suffered an upper-body injury and is expected to be out for three to four weeks. They join a busy Leafs infirmary which already includes Clarke MacArthur, Mikhail Grabovski, James Reimer and Colby Armstrong.

With more injury troubles, the Leafs have called up Joe Colborne from the Toronto Marlies. In 13 games with the Marlies this season, the 6-foot-5 centreman leads the team with ten goals while also registering nine assists. He is expected to centre the third line alongside Joey Crabb and David Steckel. The team will also call up a defenceman after the game for Sunday's tilt with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Mike Brown did not skate with the team and is doubtful for tonight's game. Colton Orr is expected to play for just the third time this season, filling Brown's spot on the fourth line with Philippe Dupuis and Jay Rosehill.

After Ben Scrivens allowed three goals on 21 shots in the loss to Nashville, the Leafs will go with Jonas Gustavsson in net against Washington. The Monster makes his first start since a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Nov. 8.

The month of November has not been a kind one to Gustavsson, as dating back to last season, he has only two wins in eight home games, posting a 2-6-1 record with a 4.29 goals-against average and an .865 save percentage.

For the second day in a row, James Reimer skated with the team but he will not dress. Ben Scrivens is expected to get the start on Sunday in Carolina.

Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines

Forwards
Joffrey Lupul - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel
Matt Frattin - Tim Connolly - Nikolai Kulemin
Joey Crabb - Joe Colborne - David Steckel
Colton Orr - Philippe Dupuis - Jay Rosehill

Defencemen
Carl Gunnarsson - Dion Phaneuf
Jake Gardiner - Luke Schenn
John-Michael Liles - Cody Franson

Goalies
Jonas Gustavsson
Ben Scrivens

Scratches: Colby Armstrong (ankle), Mike Brown (doubtful), Mikhail Grabovski (lower-body), Mike Komisarek (arm), Clarke MacArthur (upper-body), James Reimer (concussion-like symptoms)

Just like the Leafs, the Washington Capitals have also lost three in a row and five of their last six games. Their last loss, a 4-1 road defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.

The Caps allowed three goals in a 4:16 span during the second period in Thursday's loss to the Jets. They have also had trouble scoring goals as of late, having registered just four goals in their last three games while being outscored 10-4 during that stretch.

A factor in Washington's struggles has been their ineffectiveness on the power play as of late. Over their last five games, the Capitals have failed to score a goal on the man advantage, going 0-for-17. Thanks to a good start however, their power play ranks 11th in the league with a success rate of 18.5 percent.

Somebody the Caps could use some more offense from is Alex Ovechkin, who has gone without a point in his last three games. Ovie has just seven goals in 17 games played this season, putting him on pace for 33 goals. That would be just one more than he scored last season which was the lowest output of his career.

Perhaps a date with the Leafs is exactly what Ovechkin needs to get back on track. The 26-year old Russian sniper has 39 points (23G, 19A) in 23 career games played against Toronto. Ovechkin has scored more points against the Leafs than any other team outside of the Southeast Division in which the Caps play.

Tomas Vokoun gets the start in net against Toronto. The 35-year old's last start resulted in a 3-1 loss to the Predators on Nov. 15 in which he allowed two goals on 30 shots. After signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal with Washington in the summer, Vokoun is 8-3-0 this season with a 2.36 goals-against and a .922 save percentage.

In 13 career games against the Leafs, Vokoun is 8-3-2 while posting a 2.07 GAA and a .934 SV% with two shutouts.

Washington Capitals Projected Lines -Subject to change

Forwards
Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Troy Brouwer
Jason Chimera - Brooks Laich - Alex Semin
Cody Eakin - Marcus Johansson - Joel Ward
Matt Hendricks - Jeff Halpern - Mike Knuble

Defencemen
Roman Hamrlik - Karl Alzner
John Erskine - Dennis Wideman
Jeff Schultz - John Carlson

Goalies
Tomas Vokoun
Michal Neuvirth

Caps vs. Leafs gets underway at 7PM ET. The game will be broadcast on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada and AM640.

For up-to-the-minute Leafs news and updates, be sure to follow Ken Beckett on Twitter @KenBeckett

MOVEMBER - I'm growing a moustache this Movember to raise funds in the fight against prostate cancer, a disease that affects 1 in 7 Canadian men. To donate to a very worthy cause, click here. Any amount helps!

KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz. For more information click here.
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Ken Beckett
» Going Camping - Leafs Announce Prospect Camp Roster
» Leafs at NHL Draft - Day 2 - Finn-ish Flash, Monster Moved and More!
» Ready for Rielly - Leafs Select Morgan Rielly Fifth Overall at NHL Draft
» 'Marked by Failure' - Brian Burke Apologizes, Reflects on Leafs' Season
» Max-imum Effort - Pacioretty Scores Game Winner as Habs Dump Leafs