The Maple Leafs are heading into Tuesday night’s meeting with the Golden Knights in Vegas with a few tweaks to the lineup, and the changes are centered right where Toronto has been trying to sort things out.
At morning skate, the Leafs shuffled their forwards ahead of their first road test against a Vegas team that has opened the season 3-1-0. Toronto comes in at 2-2-0, and the biggest move appears to be a reset in the middle six.
According to Andre Leal of The Hockey News, rookie Gavin McKenna is expected to slide back to the third line with Nick Paul and Colton Sissons. McKenna had spent time next to John Tavares and William Nylander in Toronto’s overtime win over Nashville, but Tuesday’s alignment points to a different look for the Leafs up front.
In goal, Sergei Bobrovsky is projected to get the nod against Vegas after Anthony Stolarz started against Nashville. Bobrovsky is still searching for his first win as a Maple Leaf after beginning the season 0-2-0, with a .887 save percentage and 3.06 goals-against average.
That said, Vegas has not been a problem spot for him in the past. Bobrovsky owns an 8-3-0 record in 11 appearances against the Golden Knights, along with a .913 save percentage and 2.40 GAA.
Vegas is also making a change of its own. Raphael Lavoie is set to enter the lineup for the first time this season, replacing Victor Olofsson, who was injured in the Golden Knights’ most recent game against Seattle. Olofsson’s absence matters, too, after he scored four goals in Vegas’ first four games.
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Mitch Marner Has A Chance To Burn Toronto In His Vegas Debut
Mitch Marners first game in a Golden Knights sweater is already carrying extra weight, and not just because it comes against the Maple Leafs, the team that made him one of the NHLs most recognizable young stars. Vegas brought him in to tilt games with his playmaking, and this matchup offers an immediate chance to see how quickly he fits into a group built to attack in waves. With his linemates bringing plenty of offense of their own, the setup feels tailor-made for Marner to make an early imprint.
There are a few different ways he could do it, from feeding the power play to creating pressure in short-handed situations, where his anticipation has long been a weapon. Toronto, meanwhile, has had its own issues in net lately, which only adds to the intrigue around a player who has already spent years trying to solve the Leafs on the biggest stage. The debut has plenty of storylines attached to it, but the one everyone will be watching is whether Marner can make his former club feel the loss right away. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Suddenly Face A Scoring Problem They Didn't Expect
Victor Olofssons latest setback adds another wrinkle to a Vegas lineup that was already going to be tested in the coming stretch. Golden Knights coach Ryan Craig said the forward is out week-to-week after an injury suffered in the game against Seattle, forcing the club to adjust on the fly and reshuffle its options up front for the next run of games.
Olofsson left that contest and did not return, leaving Vegas to manage without another scoring piece while it waits for a clearer recovery timeline. For a team that has leaned on depth to stay balanced, losing a player for an extended period means the margin for error gets thinner fast, even before the roster decisions start to settle in. [Read more 🡒]