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The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for to some line juggling and lineup tweaks to generate a spark as they take on the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Wednesday.
With the exception of two games against the struggling Ottawa Senators, the Leafs have been unable to score more than two goals in regulation the entire month of January, which is the main cause for the club’s mediocre 3-3-3 record in the New Year.
“We have to be more dangerous offensively, especially when we have the puck that much.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said in Chicago on Wednesday morning. “Sometimes you don’t have the puck and you’re just checking. That wasn’t the case (against Colorado) and so we have to generate more offense.…
With that in mind, Babcock promoted Mitch Marner to the second line with the slumping Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau, moved Leo Komarov to the fourth line, inserted veteran Dominic Moore for the demoted Frederik Gauthier and replaced Matt Martin with rookie Kasperi Kapanen.
The changes were made primarily to inject more speed throughout the lineup, but also to see if Marner’s creativity could jump start Kadri, who has scored only two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in the last 20 games.
“We’re trying to be able to play 1, 2, 3, 4, (and) play with a little higher tempo. You saw when we had (Auston Matthews) out, we moved things around a little bit, we didn’t have as much(speed).… Babcock said. “We think we can be quicker, (Kapanen) is a real good player, we think he’s an NHL player, gives us some speed and some penalty kill and we’re looking to be quicker in that area.…
With games on back-to-back nights, it is possible that Toronto will re-insert Martin and possibly the well-rested Josh Leivo when the Leafs play their last game before the All-Star break in Dallas on Thursday.
Frederik Andersen will make his 11th consecutive start for Toronto against a team he is well familiar with. The Leafs goaltender started for Anaheim in the 2015 Western Conference Final, a series won in seven games by Chicago.
Andersen’s streak should end on Thursday, as backup Curtis McElhinney is slated to get the start against the Stars. McElhinney, who has an under .500 record (3-4-0) in seven starts has not seen action since a 4-2 loss to Columbus on December 20.
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Toronto Marlies defenseman Justin Holl was named as the replacement for Leafs blueliner Travis Dermott for the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic this weekend in Utica, NY. Holl has 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) in 37 games for Toronto's AHL affiliate.
Dermott, winger Kasperi Kapanen and head coach Sheldon Keefe were all selected to represent the Marlies in Utica, but the fact that the 21-year-old defenseman was replaced by Holl could be an indicator that the Leafs plan to keep him up until the return of Morgan Rielly next week or possibly when Nikita Zaitsev comes back from his broken foot in early February. Conversely, the fact that Kapanen has not been replaced could mean that he will sent back to the AHL after Thursday to play in the All-Star game.
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