Maple Leafs Morning Skate: Key Highlights and Insights
The Minnesota Wild are set to face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a highly anticipated matchup tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT. Following a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres, the Wild enters this game in search of continued success. This contest marks the beginning of a back-to-back series for Minnesota.
Recent Performance of Both Teams
In their last five encounters, the Wild have shown resilience against the Maple Leafs, capturing points in four of those games (2-1-2). They successfully swept the season series last year. Currently, Toronto boasts an impressive record of 9 wins, 1 loss, and 3 overtime losses in their last 13 games dating back to December 23. They’ve also won seven straight games at home, outscoring opponents 35-16 during that stretch.
Key Player Status and Matchup Insights
- Filip Gustavsson: Tonight, he will make his 200th career NHL appearance. In his last five away games, he holds a 4-1-0 record with a 2.41 goals-against average (GAA) and a .903 save percentage (SV%). This will be his fifth meeting against Toronto, where he has a 3-1-1 record with a 2.78 GAA and a .907 SV%.
- Injuries: The Wild will miss forwards Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus Johansson, and defensemen Zach Bogosian and Jonas Brodin due to lower body injuries. Toronto will be without their leading scorer, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies’ availability is uncertain.
Players to Watch
- Ryan Hartman: He has tallied five points (4 goals, 1 assist) in his last six games, including a goal in his most recent outing against Buffalo.
- Quinn Hughes: Coming off a multi-point performance against Buffalo, Hughes has amassed 14 points (1 goal, 13 assists) in his last 11 games. He has 18 points (2 goals, 16 assists) in 17 career games against the Maple Leafs.
- Vladimir Tarasenko: Following a productive two-game stretch where he scored three points (1 goal, 2 assists), Tarasenko has 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists) over 24 career games versus the Maple Leafs.
As both teams contend with injuries, the stakes are high for tonight’s matchup. Fans can catch the action live on FanDuel Sports Network and KFAN FM 100.3. The Wild aims to maintain momentum, while the Maple Leafs look to extend their winning streak on home ice.
