Maple Leafs Game Day #18: Seeking revenge vs. Rangers; lines, odds

The Maple Leafs have been on a good run recently, winning nine of the past 10 games. Early in the season, a four-game winless skid for the Maple Leafs was started by a 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Rangers.

Coming off a 3-0 win against Nashville on Tuesday, the Maple Leafs had one of their most complete performances against the Predators. While there have been some inconsistent moments during this 10-game stretch, the Maple Leafs have tightened up defensively.

With an 11-5-1 record, good for 23 points in 17 games, the Maple Leafs are in second place in the Atlantic Division.

As for the lineup, right winger Ondrej Kase is a game-time decision after blocking a shot against Nashville. At this point, he seems likely to play. If Kase can’t go, Kirill Semyonov would get back into the Maple Leafs lineup.

Defenceman Timothy Liljegren looks like he will be a healthy scratch for a second straight game. There has been a rotation among blueliners that have been healthy scratches. Justin Holl and Travis Dermott have had multiple scratches as well.

William Nylander (7 G, 9 A) is the Maple Leafs’ leading scorer through 17 games.

FORWARD LINES

Ritchie – Matthews – Marner

Kerfoot – Tavares – Nylander

Engvall – Kampf – Kase

Bunting – Spezza – Simmonds

DEFENCE

Rielly – Brodie

Muzzin – Holl

Sandin – Dermott – Liljegren

GOALTENDERS

Campbell

Woll

New York Rangers

The New York Rangers have won four straight games and have one regulation loss in the past nine games.

With a 10-3-3 record, the Rangers have 23 points in 16 games, good enough for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Defenceman Adam Fox and left winger Artemi Panarin are tied for the Rangers scoring lead; both have 16 points in 16 games.

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 40 of 41 shots the last time that the Rangers were in Toronto. He has a .930 save percentage through a dozen games this season.

Here are expected lines for the New York Rangers on Thursday:

FORWARD LINES

Kreider – Zibanejad – Goodrow

Panarin – Strome – Kakko

Lafreniere – Chytil – Gauthier

Hunt – Rooney – Reaves

DEFENCE

Lindgren – Fox

Miller – Trouba

Nemeth – Lundkvist

GOALTENDERS

Shesterkin

Georgiev

LINES

Toronto -185 vs. N.Y. Rangers

O/U 5.5

That is a little too much of a premium to pay for the Maple Leafs, even though they should be favoured to win. Thus, the under on 5.5 goals, banking on another great goaltending battle between Jack Campbell and Igor Shesterkin could make some sense.

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