Difficult lineup decisions lead to a difficult conversation ahead of Game 1
As per Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, Jason Spezza will be a healthy scratch tonight. Keefe stated on Monday that it was a difficult conversation to have with the veteran forward, but he likes the speed that Colin Blackwell and the toughness that Kyle Clifford offer. Keefe added that he does expect Spezza to draw into the lineup eventually.
Yesterday at practice, Colin Blackwell centered Wayne Simmonds and Kyle Clifford on the Leafs' fourth line. Keefe seems to like the physicality Simmonds and Clifford bring, especially when they play together. As for Colin Blackwell, he seems to add a bit more speed to the line and is plenty feisty himself, something Jason Spezza lacks at this point in his career.
Throughout his career, Spezza has played in 92 playoff games, recording 75 points. His best playoff was in 2007, when he recorded 22 points in 20 games with the Ottawa Senators, who went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals that year where they lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.
This is not the news the 19-year NHL veteran wanted to hear, however, I would expect that as the matchup game is played by Jon Cooper and Sheldon Keefe, we'll see Spezza in at some point over the next week or so - if not Game 2 on Wednesday.
| POLL | ||
MAI 2 | 561 ANSWERS Difficult lineup decisions lead to a difficult conversation ahead of Game 1 Who should be tonight's healthy scratch? | ||
| Jason Spezza | 113 | 20.1 % |
| Kyle Clifford | 234 | 41.7 % |
| Wayne Simmonds | 73 | 13 % |
| Colin Blackwell | 141 | 25.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
