The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to continue their recent record of success and upward trajectory in the Eastern Conference standings in Philadelphia against the Flyers on Thursday, the first of five games on the road in the next six contests that could further enhance their playoff prospects or undercut the progress they have shown over the last two-plus weeks.
The Leafs are 5-0-2 in the last seven games, but the only blemishes during that seven-game span were road games against the Detroit Red Wings and the NY Islanders, both of which Toronto earned a point in overtime losses. The club’s impressive 15-5-5 record at Scotiabank Arena has been undermined by its league-worst 5-10-2 road record, something that will have to be rectified if it hopes to maintain distance or gain ground in the race for a post-season berth.
A big factor in the Leafs chances of climbing back in the race is the fact that they have already played 25 of their 41 home games, as opposed to only 17 road contests. Toronto will play 15 games prior to the Olympic break in early February (six home and nine away), leaving just 10 games at Scotiabank Arena in the final 25 down the home stretch. The concern over the disparity only serves to be crippling if the Leafs continue to play at a .333 clip the rest of the season.
At worst, playoff clubs are .500 on the road, which means that Toronto (who are currently five games under .500 on the road) will have to win 14 or 15 of the remaining 24 away games, while maintaining their success on home ice.
Four of Toronto’s five road wins came within a stretch of nine days at the end of November and early December against Columbus, Pittsburgh, Florida, and Carolina, the other victory came against the Flyers on November 1, the contest in which defenseman Chris Tanev was stretchered off the ice after a collision with Philadelphia forward Matvei Michkov.
Toronto will not have leading scorer William Nylander in the lineup for the sixth consecutive game, but head coach Craig Berube indicated that the injured winger could be back as soon as Saturday, when the Leafs play the Vancouver Canucks at home. In Philadelphia, the club appears to not be making any lineup changes, except for backup Dennis Hildeby making the start in goal. Hildeby made 22 saves in relief of Joseph Woll on January 1 in a 6-5 victory over Winnipeg. Giving the big Swede the start on Thursday allows Woll to get three full days of rest before Toronto’s next game against Vancouver on Saturday.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Wednesday’s Insider Trading that Leafs GM Brad Treliving is looking to add some blueline help prior to the March 6th trade deadline, but indicated that the defensive trade market is relatively thing and consists mostly of veteran defenseman at the end of their careers and third-pairing blueliners. One name that potentially intrigue Treliving is two-time former Leaf Luke Schenn. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported that the veteran defenseman is open to being moved by the Winnipeg Jets, but at this point, it is unclear whether the Jets will be selling some of their expiring contracts. The 36-year-old makes $2.75 million this season and is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
