The Leafs will be without goaltender Joseph Woll but players like William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Austin Matthews will challenge Nashville as the Predators chase their fourth win in a row.
The Nashville Predators will play the first game in a road back to back as they face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Scotiabank Arena. The last time these two teams met Roman Josi secured Nashville's win with his first goal of the season in overtime.
The Leafs are 13-6-4 led by the offense of William Nylander, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and Austin Matthews. Even with some of the league's top players, Toronto ranks in the middle of the pack in the league when it comes to goals scored. Toronto's last eight games were one goal games and five of those eight games needed extra time to decide the outcome.
The Predators have won nine of their last eleven games including their last three. The team didn't get two wins in a row from the second week of the season until they kicked off a six game win streak on November 18th, but the Predators are feeling more and more comfortable with how Andrew Brunette wants them to play and individuals are finding their game.
Goaltending
The Maple Leafs' best goalie will not play today. Joseph Woll was injured midway through the third period in the Leafs' game against the Ottawa Senators, and word is he will miss several weeks with a high ankle sprain. Toronto will need to lean on either 33-year-old Martin Jones who has one game under his belt this season in the NHL or Ilya Samsonov who hasn't gotten back to last season's form, hasn't played since November 24, and is still recovering from illness. No word yet on who will start in net for the Leafs, but neither Samsonov nor Martin have played as well as Woll.
Dec 7, 2023; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll (60) is injured on a play in the third period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY SportsNashville is playing their first in a weekend back to back so Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen will most likely split starts between Toronto tonight and Montreal tomorrow. Andrew Brunette may opt to play the hot goalie tonight as Saros is playing his best hockey since the season began, but Lankinen could get the start tonight and give Saros another day of rest before tomorrow night's game.
Regardless of who is in net for either team, goaltending will play an important part in a game between two teams hoping to create chances off the rush.
Owning the Net Front
One of the factors in Nashville's success against Tampa Bay Thursday night was the way the team played in front of Saros.
"We were really good in front of our net," Brunette said after the win Thursday. "We blocked some shots and we cleaned up the front pretty well. I think we're getting better. We're understanding a little more what we're asking."
Nashville will need more of that net front support for their goaltender tonight. According to Meghan Chayka of Stathletes, the Maple Leafs rank sixth in the league when it comes to goals from the weak side. The Predators will need to close down those opportunities and clean up and clear any rebounds left loose in front of their goalie.
Ryan O'Reilly
O'Reilly has been a big part of Nashville's growth under Brunette in the first quarter of the season, and the 32-year-old veteran ranks second on the team in goals and points. There is, of course, the whispered storyline from Toronto that O'Reilly opted to leave Toronto because he didn't want the pressure of playing in the microscopic market of the Maple Leafs. This will be his first return back to Scotiabank Arena after joining the Maple Leafs at last season's trade deadline.
Peripheral drama aside, O'Reilly had success in the earlier meetup scoring two goals and is one of Nashville's best threats offensively at five on five and on the power play. His two hundred foot game will be important when it comes to containing the and interrupting the offense the Leafs can generate as well. O'Reilly may be a difference maker for the Predator tonight.
Nov 11, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) scores past Arizona Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram (39) during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsWatch/Listen
The Predators take on the Maple Leafs tonight at Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 pm CT, and the game will be broadcast on NHL Network and Bally Sports South. 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.