Tomas Plekanec Makes His Leafs Debut In Tampa

PUBLICATION

February 26, 2018 (4:24 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

"Toronto Maple Leafs 83 pts (39-20-5)
@
Tampa Bay Lightning 87 pts (42-17-3)
7:30 p.m. ET
Amaile Arena � Tampa, FL
TV: Sportsnet Ontario
Radio: TSN 1050 AM

Season Series/Schedule
Date Game GWG
1/2 TBL 2 @ TOR 0 Cedric Paquette
2/12 TBL 3 @ TOR 4 James van Riemsdyk
2/26 TOR @ TBL
3/20 TOR @ TBL

Team Leaders
Maple Leafs Lightning
Mitch Marner, 51 Points Nikita Kuckerov, 82
Auston Matthews, 38 Goals Nikita Kuckerov, 33
Gardiner/Marner, 35 Assists Nikita Kuckerov, 49

After all the trade rumors, the only acquisition the Maple Leafs made at the deadline was that of veteran center Tomas Plekanec, who will make his debut tonight. He will center the fourth line between Josh Leivo and Kasperi Kapanen in Tampa.
The Lightning made the biggest trade of the day by acquiring both Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller from the New York Rangers for Vladislav Namestnikov, a pair of prospects and two high draft picks. Neither are expected to be in the lineup tonight.
The Leafs were rumored to be in on McDonagh, but were obviously unable to get anything done. The already loaded Bolts added McDonagh and Miller. The Boston Bruins added Rick Nash, Nick Holden and Brian Gionta. The Maple Leafs just added Tomas Plekanec. Does this concern you not only during the last five weeks of the regular season, but heading into the playoffs as well?

Probable Maple Leafs Lineup
FORWARDS
Zach Hyman - Mitch Marner - William Nylander
Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Connor Brown
Josh Leivo - Tomas Plekanec - Kasperi Kapenaen
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott - Roman Polak
GOALTENDER
Frederik Andersen (32-16-4, 2.67 GAA, .922 save %, 5 SO)
INJURY REPORT
LW-Joffrey Lupul (sports hernia) out, C-Auston Matthews (shoulder) out

Probable Lightning Lineup
FORWARDS
Tyler Johnson - Steven Stamkos - Ryan Callahan
Alex Killorn - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Adam Erne - Yanni Gourde - Cory Conacher
Chris Kunitz - Cedric Paquette � Slater Koekkoek
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Victor Hedman - Anton Stralman
Mikhail Sergachev - Dan Girardi
Braydon Coburn - Andrej Sustr
GOALTENDER
Andrei Vasilevsky (36-12-2, 2.34 GAA, .927 save %, 7 SO)
INJURY REPORT
G-Peter Budaj (lower-body) out, LW-Ondrej Palat (lower-body) out"

MUST READ