NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Washington Capitals | 25 April, 7 AM (PST)

[Mary C]

  

POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUPS: 

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: 

C | Auston Matthews 

LW | Michael Bunting 

RW | Mitchell Marner 

LD | Morgan Reilly 

RD | TJ Brodie 

G | Jack Campbell 

 

WASHINGTON CAPITALS: 

C | Evgeny Kuznetsov 

LW | Alex Ovechkin 

RW | Tom Wilson 

LD | Martin Fehervary 

RD | John Carlson 

G | Vitek Vanecek 

 

 

After April 14’s defeat to the Maple Leafs in Toronto, Ontario, the Capitals will be fighting for redemption on home ice this Monday, April 25, 2022. Bright and early, 7 AM (PST), the Toronto Maple Leafs are set for a matchup against the Washington Capitals. If you’re looking to know what to expect from this coming match, read on. 

 

Following their last matchup of 7-3 in favor of the Maple Leafs, the Capitals have gone on to win three of their last four matches. The Washington natives did not waste time in picking up the pace, leaving no time for sulking regardless of how devastating their loss was. This resilience has earned them the fourth spot in the East’s Metropolitan Division with 44 wins, 23 losses, and 11 OTL, ultimately securing a playoff position for their team. The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, make Toronto proud as they place second in the Atlantic Division with 51 wins, 21 losses, and 6 OTL. With 108 points, this Toronto team is currently third in the entire league ties with the Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams are proficient in their own right, but how are they looking against each other? 

 

If we take a look on paper, the Maple Leafs are at an advantage. With a Goals For per Game at 3.83, Shots per Game at 34.7, Power Play Goals of 61, Power Play % at 27.5, and Short Handed Goals at 13, Toronto outweighs Washington in these numbers among others. Where it gets interesting is with player injuries. Toronto has two players on their injury report as of the moment: defender Jake Muzzin and center Auston Matthews. Matthews is Toronto’s ace. The injury and possible absence of Matthews could even out this game, especially if the Capitals went ham with preparation. However, the Capitals can’t be too complacent yet. The Maple Leafs player is under day-to-day, so his probability of coming back on the ice increases each day. 

 

Now, what will it be? If we stick to the numbers, the Maple Leafs will take it home, but our gut says it’s the Washington Capitals for this one. After Toronto cut their winning streak of 4 short, there’s a certain bitterness that we sense, and that bitterness has played a big part in their preparation for this game. Washington has the caliber and the talent to make vengeance possible, and we definitely see it coming. 

 

7 AM, Monday, 25 April 2022. Capital One Arena, Washington, DC.