Toronto Maple Leafs against Anaheim Ducks -game #74 Preview, projected lines and TV -Broadcast -Info

The Maple Leafs hope to do five out of six points on their road trip in California, but have to dig into Ducks as a tired team against the rested Anaheim, but have won three of their last four (8:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet Ontario). With the loss of the Panthers regulation against Montreal this afternoon, the Maple Leafs can open a three-point lead at the top of the Atlantic with a win.

Matchday quotes

Craig Berube about the challenge of the ducks:

They have many good young players who are playing well. You won your last two games.

Quite balanced list. You have a few young defenders in the backend who really get up and drove well in Lacombe and Zellweg.

Her young boys grow and get better. Pretty good team. You are a young group that begins to gel a team.

Berube about the snack bars from the victory in La last night:

We talked about it is a playoff game, and that was it. It was low. I liked our review. I liked how we protected our net front and the middle of the ice.

We stayed with it. We had dropped 1-0 in a hard building against a team that has not given up a lead for a long time. You don’t lose very much at home. We held on it and found a way to win.

Berube in the team’s five-against-five game against the kings:

Defensive it was pretty healthy. We always want to create a little more in such games. It is tight and you are a good check team that doesn’t give you much. It’s a big, heavy team.

We are always looking for ways to create more offensive than last night. At the same time, you have to make sure that we don’t want to play easily and exchange opportunities.

That will be important this evening. This team is very good on the ice with four or five boys. They close very well. Our rush defense will be of crucial importance in today’s game.

Berube about Simon Benoit’s performances lately:

I think he was physically. This is a large part of his game to be a physical defender there. He takes the body shift after the shift. He makes it difficult for the other team. For me, his penalty was good and his net front presence was good in his own end.

Berube about his expectations of Joseph Woll, who gives a hard game against San Jose:

This year after a game in which he was not satisfied with himself, he did well to be better or better. He replied this year. I expect the same.

Simon Benoit when he returns to Anaheim and the challenge of the ducks is present:

I have good feelings here. I was three minors for three and here for three. These are good feelings, but it’s not my first game here. I’m looking for the two points.

(The ducks) young people are really good. Your defensive core improves a lot with Zellweger and these children. Of course you will come to us. You will fight to create a few strange falls. We don’t have to give them and defend them well.

Benoit about his latest piece:

It was better. There is always some space to improve. I can’t say I’m satisfied. I just want to set a few things in front of the playoffs. I think I’m in the right direction here.

The head coach of Ducks, Greg Cronin, about the 20 points of Leo Carlsson (10 goals, 10 templates, +10) in his last 18 games:

Since the tournament 4 nations, it seems like he has more speed in his game and more explosiveness. I talked about how he has to get to the inside of the ice, has to play inside the ice, and he does so … If he doesn’t wear the puck, he drives in ice, which gives him puck recovery in the offensive zone.

Cronin on Olen Zellweger’s striker this season as a developing defender:

He adds an element to our team that we don’t have. He is an explosive offensive player. He climbs the ice cream … what I love about Zelly is that he is fearless. He makes mistakes and they train him on these mistakes, but it doesn’t affect him. He is ready to go in the next shift.

Head-to-head statistics: Maple Leafs (44-25-4) against ducks (32-32-8)

In the regular 2024-25 season statistics, Toronto has the advantage in five out of five offensive categories and five out of five defense categories.

Toronto Maple Leafs projected lines

Forward
#23 Matthew Knies – #34 Auston Matthews – #16 Mitch Marner
#74 Bobby McMann – #91 John Tavares – #88 William Nylander
#24 SCOTT LUGHTON – #11 Max Domi – #19 Calle Jarnkrok
#29 Pontus Holmberg – #64 David Kampf – #18 Steven Lorentz

defender
#22 Jake McCabe – #8 Chris Tannev
#44 Morgan Rielly – #25 Brandon Carlo
#2 Simon Benoit- #95 Oliver Ekman-Larson

goalkeeper
Starter: #60 Joseph Woll
#41 Anthony Stolance

Extras: Nick Robertson, Philippe Myers
Injured (ltir): Jani Hakanpää, Max Pacioretty

Anaheim Ducks projected lines

Forward
#77 Frank Vatrano – #16 Ryan Strome – #19 Troy Terry
#61 Cutter Gauthier – #91 Leo Carlsson – #17 Alex Killorn
#11 Trevor Zegras – #23 Mason Mactavish – #64 Sam Colangelo
#62 Niesterenko – #21 ISAAC Lundestrom – #38 Jansen Harkins

defender
#2 Jackson Lacombe – #7 Radko Gudas
#58 Oliver Kylington – #51 Olen Zellweger
#34 Pavel Mintyukov – #43 Drew Helleson

goalkeeper
Starter: #1 Lukas Dostal
#36 John Gibson

Hurt/off: Jacob Troubba, Robby Fabbri, Brock McGinn, Ross Johnston