First unveiled in March of 2022, the Toronto Maple Leafs will wear the black-based third jersey for the first time this season in the Music City.
First unveiled in March of 2022, the Toronto Maple Leafs will wear the black-based third jersey for the first time this season in the Music City.
NASHVILLE — The Toronto Maple Leafs will be dressed in black when they visit the Nashville Predators in the final game of a lengthy five-game road trip on Saturday.
The club has been breaking into their extra gear since the beginning of the season, taking part in many practices wearing black gloves helmets, pants and socks. But the first indication that they may be wearing black and blue came when the coaching staff wore matching black tracksuits ahead of their practice at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville on Friday.
A team spokesperson confirmed to The Hockey News that the club will indeed wear the uniforms.
Unveiled in March and designed by Maple Leafs superfan and world-renowned recording artist Justin Bieber, the Maple Leafs have sprinkled in the black jersey for a handful of games.
Veteran defenseman Mark Giordano played his very first game as a Maple Leaf as the team debuted the new look in a 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on March 23, 2022.
Can a new look turn Ilya Samsonov's luck?
A change for any reason is something goaltender Ilya Samsonov will welcome at this point. He'll make his first start in goal since he was chased out of the team's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning last week.
Samsonov was candid about the mental hurdles in his game right now. He is 2-1-0 this season with an .831 save percentage and he allowed three goals on four shots last against the Lightning, before teammate Joseph Woll came in relief and has been red hot ever since.
The Predators are tied for 18th in the NHL in goals per game at 2.86 though games played on Oct. 26.
McCabe out, Lagesson in, Minten sent to Junior
Jake McCabe was injured on his very first shift during his team's 4-1 win against the Dallas Stars on Thursday. More details are expected on Saturday following the morning skate as an MRI was scheduled to take place at the same time the Leafs were practicing on Friday.
The Maple Leafs called up William Lagesson from the Toronto Marlies and he'll make his team debut on Saturday.
When asked why Laggeson got the nod over any other defenseman in the system, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe cited the defenseman's experience.
The 6-foot-2 Swede has played 60 NHL games, but none of those came last season.
Giordano moved up to the team's second defense pair with McCabe out.
Because the severity of McCabe's injury is unknown, the Leafs only had cap room for 21 players (including McCabe). Toronto was left with few options as far as making room on their roster. They could have sent Pontus Holmberg down, but Keefe has liked how the center has played on the fourth line and has liked David Kampf on the third line between Matthew Knies and Max Domi.
Saros in net for Nashville, O'Reilly Meets Leafs For First Time Since Departing in the Summer
Juuse Saros will get the nod in goal against the Maple Leafs, according to TSN's Mark Masters.
Saros has started in all seven games for the Predators this season and will make his eight against the Leafs. He has a 3-4-0 record with a .910 save percentage.
Ryan O'Reilly will play against the Maple Leafs for the first time since he departed the club as a free agent. Toronto acquired the O'Reilly and forward Noel Acciari (now with the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a first, second and third-round draft pick, prospects Mikhail Abramov and forward Adam Gaudette.
Earlier this summer, O'Reilly admitted that getting away from the spotlight of Toronto when he signed with the Predators this summer.
No Luke Schenn Reunion
Maple Leafs fans had all the feels when the defenseman joined the Maple Leafs for a second tenure with the club back in February. The defenseman was interested in returning to the Maple Leafs, but Schenn found what he was looking for in Nashville with a pay increase and term, signing a three-year, $8.25 million deal.
On Oct. 18, the Predators announced that Schenn would be sidelined for 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury.
Where to watch
In Canada, the game will be broadcast across the country and available to stream on CBC and Sportsnet. In the Nashville broadcast region, the game will be available to watch on Bally Sports South. For the rest of the United States, the game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
For the rest of the world, the game is available to stream on NHL Live. Broadcast starts at 7 p.m. ET.
have his back. Just continue to work hard and use days like today to work hard and use days like today to prepare and work on things and build confidence," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said.
Samsonov gets the net against the Nashville Predators on Saturday, a team that is currently rebuilding itself. It's a strategic start and one that the Leafs hope will clear the goaltender's fog in his head.
"It’s more of a mental spot," Samsonov explained. "It’s not about how I play hockey. It’s not physical. It’s not about technique. It’s just mental stuff."
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