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The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their longest road trip of the season against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, in an unusual non-holiday 6pm starting time due to ESPN’s Frozen Frenzy where all 32 teams are playing on one night. The Leafs are facing a Capitals club at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, which is something that should fill Toronto with dread since they seem to play down to their opposition on several occasions.
Alex Ovechkin has not scored a goal in four games, but with his history of dining out on the Leafs (41 goals, 33 assists), which means seeing Blue and White on the ice is akin to taking a trip to Lourdes. The game marks the first meeting between the Leafs and former first rounder Rasmus Sandin. Sandin was traded before the trade deadline last season for a 2023 first round pick (Easton Cowan) and Erik Gustafsson.
The 23-year-old blueliner had 15 points in 19 games for the Caps after the trade, due in part to John Carlson being out of the Washington lineup and Sandin playing on the power play, but this season with Carlson back, he has been relegated to second unit status and has been held scoreless.
The Leafs are looking for a more complete effort after being forced into a multi-goal comeback late in regulation for the second time in six games.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe once again juggled his forward line combinations searching for some chemistry at practice on Monday, shifting Calle Jarnkrok to the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, while moving Tyler Bertuzzi alongside John Tavares and William Nylander.
After an excellent showing in Tampa, Matthew Knies will start on a unit with David Kampf and Max Domi, and the fourth line remains Noah Gregor with Pontus Holmberg and Ryan Reaves.
Youngster Fraser Minten remains with the club as an extra forward, and it is unknown how long it will be before the 19-year-old is either sent back to Kamloops gets back into the lineup.
The game marks a potentially significant point for the Leafs in that Joseph Woll gets the start after relieving Ilya Samsonov on Saturday after allowing three Tampa goals on four shots. Although no one expected Samsonov to play 60 games this season, it was expected that he would get the majority of starts. If Woll is good again tonight, then it is possible that they could let the youngster run with the ball a bit to see how he handles a heavier workload.
“(Woll) has been great. I thought he played well in the start that he had (against Chicago). In practice this week, he was outstanding and competitive.” Keefe said. “To see him step in and do the job for our guys (against Tampa) was really huge. It is another young guy coming up in a big moment for us.”
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