Welcome to the Leafs Talk Forever weekly blog, where I will look at the week that was and the week ahead, as well as the news from the team. This blog will coincide with the Leafs Talk Forever Podcast which releases to all podcast streaming services every Friday by noon EST.
Note: This week’s podcast was released on Tuesday, November 22nd, instead of the regular Friday.
News from the Team:
- TJ Brodie’s oblique injury has not been progressing well, and he could be out longer than initially thought.
- Morgan Rielly has an MCL injury and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after he ran into Kyle Palmieri in the game against the New York Islanders. He has since been placed on LTIR for a minimum of 10 games or 24 days.
- Toronto has expressed interest in both forward Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks, and defenceman Conor Timmins of the Arizona Coyotes. The math doesn’t seem to work on Vatrano, but the Timmins deal could work, he also has a Soo Greyhounds connection to Dubas, where he was defence partners with Rasmus Sandin.
- Samsonov is to travel with the team and potentially return next week.
- Mete and Hollowell get recalled in Reilly’s absence.
- Simmonds gets placed on waivers.
- Nick Robertson has been a healthy scratch for 4 games but is expected to play against the Devils on Wednesday.
- Malgin practices with the extras and is expected to sit Wednesday against the Devils.
The Week that was:
Thursday, November 17th, 2022: 3-2 Devils (OT)
- Matthews scores again on the PP and gets an assist
- Leafs got caught and the Devils scored 24 seconds the Leafs
- Nylander nets the tying goal late in the 3rd period
- Murray plays extremely well and earns a .909 SV% stopping 30/33 shots
- The Maple Leafs struggle with turnovers in OT and it leads to Sharangovich scoring the game-winner.
Saturday, November 19th, 2022: 5-2 Toronto
- The Stars come to play in this one
- Matthews gets an assist, Marner gets 2
- Tavares scores 1 and records 2 assists
- Nylander doubles down and nets 2 goals
- Giordano and Järnkrok score the other 2 goals
- The Maple Leafs played a very solid 60-minute game
- Murray shines again stopping 32/34 shots for a .941 SV%
Monday, November 21st, 2022: 3-2 Islanders (OT)
- Rielly collides with Palmieri and leaves the game with a knee injury
- Matthews appears to be starting to heat up as of late, scoring his 9th of the year
- Tavares nets his 11th goal of the year
- Källgren stops 21/24 for a .875 SV%
- Sandin comes to Matthews’s defence after a knee-on-knee hit and fights Oscar Wahlstrom
- Unfortunately, the Leafs gave up a late goal that tied the game
- Another OT, another turnover by the Leafs that leads to a goal.
The Week Ahead:
The Maple Leafs hope to continue how they have been playing as of late when they take on the following three opponents in the next week:
- Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022: Toronto heads to Jersey and looks to snap their 13-game winning streak.
- Friday, November 25th, 2022: Minnesota and Toronto clash in a 2:00 matinee
- Saturday, November 19th, 2022: Leafs & Pens faceoff for the 3rd and final time in less than a month
Thanks for reading! Remember to click the link below to listen to the latest episode of our Leafs Talk Forever podcast. This blog is sponsored by Draft Kings, use Promo Code: THPN when you sign up for a Draft Kings account. Don’t forget to like and share and enjoy your week.
Go Leafs Go!!
