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The main reason for criticism levied against the Toronto Maple Leafs has been their sluggish offense through seven games and the fact that two of their losses have been to two clubs in pursuit of the best odds to win the Connor Bedard lottery in Montreal and Arizona.
On Thursday, the Leafs begin a stretch of three games in four nights against clubs that constitute most of the bottom half of the Pacific Division against the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are averaging less than two goals per game, have allowed 27 goals, lost their first five games, including a pair against Nashville as part of the NHL’s Global Series, went 2-2-0 on the road against the New York-area clubs and Philadelphia before losing 4-2 to Vegas on Tuesday.
The Leafs generated only 23 shots on goal in a 3-1 loss in Vegas on Monday, prompting head coach Sheldon Keefe to shake up his line combinations at practice on Wednesday, with Alex Kerfoot playing the left side with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Michael Bunting moving to the third line with Calle Jornkrok moving to the middle and Denis Malgin, while Zach Aston-Reese was inserted on the fourth line with David Kamp and Pierre Engvall.
"Obviously, we haven't been scoring and, in addition to scoring, controlling play the way we'd like to particularly from our bottom six, So, looking to get a bit of a different look, a different balance." Keefe said on Wednesday. "I think Bunting's presence on that line presents us some additional opportunities at offence especially if you put Malgin in there as well. (We’re) looking to get a little bit more from that group that way.…
Leafs captain John Tavares will be in the lineup on Thursday after getting a bit of a scare in Monday’s loss, taking a Rasmus Sandin shot off of the leg.
“(Rasmus) got all of it and it just caught me on the inside of the knee with no padding. The doc said it was right on the nerve. I couldn’t put any weight on it for 10 minutes.… Tavares said. “Actually, it’s not that bad. “There’s really no muscle where it is…..The swelling has been good….. I just expected the pain to go away a little bit quicker, I couldn’t put any weight on it and the pain was not settling down, so it was just really uncomfortable.…
Erik Kallgren surprisingly will get the start after Ilya Samsonov played in three straight, which sets up Kallgren getting another start with back-to-back games in Southern Calfornia on the weekend.
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