The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to get back into the win column tonight when they face the St. Louis Blues. However, the Blues are on a hot streak, winning seven of their last eight games, including a dominant 7-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. Torey Krug had a record-setting performance with five assists against the Canadiens, the most by a defenseman in Blues history. Forward Robert Thomas also had a standout game with a goal and three assists.
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The Blues have been particularly successful on the road, winning five straight games away from home. The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, have lost two of their last three, including a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (Feb. 10). There are some lingering issues from that game.
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Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly faces a hearing with the NHL today after his controversial cross-check on Ottawa’s Ridly Greig. Fans should know more about Rielly’s punishment after today’s meeting in New York City. However, given that the meeting is face-to-face, it could be a long suspension.
Despite the recent losses, captain John Tavares emphasized the team’s solidarity and determination to stand together in challenging moments, and the next week or so could be a challenge. The prolific Auston Matthews continues to lead the league in goals – he added his 42nd of the season against the Senators.
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One thing that has held the team back is their lack of secondary scoring – outside the star quartet of Matthews, Tavares, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner. Matthews Knies and Max Domi scored against the Senators, and more of that kind of production would help.
Item One: Timothy Liljegren Moving to Top Defensive Pairing
With Rielly facing a likely suspension, the Maple Leafs will be forced to compensate for his absence. Head coach Sheldon Keefe has decided to elevate Timothy Liljegren to the top defensive pairing alongside TJ Brodie. Despite Liljegren’s recent struggles, Keefe sees this as an opportunity for the young defenseman to prove himself in a more prominent role.
Liljegren will aim to simplify his game while focusing on making smart plays. The hope is that pairing him with the…
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