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The Toronto Maple Leafs are doing an uncanny job of imitating the 2022 Minnesota Viking (who were unbelievably successful in one score games) this season. The Leafs 4-0 shutout of the Nashville Predators on Saturday departed from their usual script of heart-pounding close games. In games decided by two or more goals, the win over Nashville moved the Leafs to .500 (5-5-0), but in one score games, they are 9-1-4.
Toronto begins a two-game swing through the Big Apple, starting with matchup with the NY Islanders at UBS Arena. The Islanders have been hot recently (going 7-1-2 in their last 10) and are tied with Tampa Bay for the second wildcard in the Eastern Conference.
The match has a few cross connections, with former Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello, forwards Matt Martin and Pierre Engvall on the Isles side, but once again all of the focus will be on former New York and current Leafs team captain John Tavares, who is just two points short of reaching the 1,000-point plateau in his NHL career.
“John is as steady as they come. I don’t know that he would say or change anything. Again, it speaks to the consistency. It doesn’t matter who we are playing or what the circumstances are. He is very steady in his approach.
I am constantly reminded when we come here of how much he means to the people here. They make it very clear the fact that it is still top of mind for them.” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said on Monday.
“Every time he comes back, I am sure it is special. I think the fans make it known he is disappointed he is no longer with them. To me, I look at it as nothing more than a credit to the player and what he meant to the organization.
John has moved on, the organization has moved on, and all of that kind of stuff. He’ll be ready to play a good game tonight against a team that is playing very well.”
The Leafs are only one point ahead of the Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings, and based on the morning skate will go with Ilya Samsonov coming off his shutout on Saturday, which means that Martin Jones will get the start at MSG against the Rangers on Tuesday.
William Lagesson took part in the morning skate at UBS Arena, and it appears he will take the spot of Maxime Lajoie on defense. Lagesson skated with Jake McCabe, while Simon Benoit replaced Lajoie on the bottom pairing with Conor Timmins.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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