Qualifier Game 1: Blue Jackets @ Leafs - Aug. 2nd, 8:00pm - SN

[CarltonTheBear]

@

33-22-15, 81 points | 36-25-9, 81 points

Projected Lines

Foligno-Wennberg-Atkinson Texier-Dubois-Bjorkstrand Nyquist-Jenner-Foudy Robinson-Nash-Bemstrom Werenski-Jones Gavrikov-Savard Murray-Kukan Korpisalo/Merzlikins ​

Nylander-Matthews-Hyman Mikheyev-Tavares-Marner Robertson-Kerfoot-Kapanen Clifford-Gauthier-Spezza Muzzin-Holl Rielly-Ceci Dermott-Barrie Andersen​

Scratches

Nathan Gerbe Scott Harrington Markus Nutivaara ​

Pierre Engvall Martin Marincin Rasmus Sandin​

Game Notes

CBJ
?Who starts for Columbus is still anyone's guess at this point. The two goalies split Columbus' exhibition game against Boston and both fared well
?Rookie Liam Foudy will be in Columbus' line-up. The 20 year old got a taste of the NHL after receiving an emergency call-up from the London Knights in February
?Centre Pierre-Luc Dubois will have the big task of shutting down either Matthes or Tavares throughout the season. The Blue Jackets will lean on him heavily down the middle
?Seth Jones will play in his first non-exhibition game since fracturing his ankle in February

TOR
?Andersen (29-13-7, 2.85 GAA, .909 Sv%) will start for the Leafs
?18-year old Nick Robertson will likely make his non-exhibition Leafs debut as he seems to have stuck on the Leafs 3rd line alongside Kerfoot and Kapanen, both of whom looked very dangerous in Toronto's exhibition game
?Pierre Engvall was originally dropped to the 4th line because of Robertson's arrival but a lackluster exhibition game seems to have dropped him from the line-up entirely as the Goat has been in the 4C role at practice since then

Injuries

?Josh Anderson - Shoulder - Injured Reserve ?Brandon Subinsky - Wrist - Injured Reserve​

?Andreas Johnsson - Knee - Injured Reserve​

Stream Options

Sportsurge.net
Volokit
​

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Writing "Aug." in the title was very, very weird.

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

I was never sure this was going to happen but it looks like they've made it. Onward to the cup!

 

[L K]

I'm still not sure that Gauthier's 3-4 faceoffs are worth being in the lineup over Engvall on the PK but oh well.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm still not sure that Gauthier's 3-4 faceoffs are worth being in the lineup over Engvall on the PK but oh well.

It's a small thing, but that 4th line match-up worries me a little especially with Gauthier there instead of Engvall. Big speed advantage there for Columbus.

 

[disco]

Go Leafs Go!

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/shawnmckenziesn/status/1289677736454180864

 

[L K]

I'm still not sure that Gauthier's 3-4 faceoffs are worth being in the lineup over Engvall on the PK but oh well.

It's a small thing, but that 4th line match-up worries me a little especially with Gauthier there instead of Engvall. Big speed advantage there for Columbus.

My hope is that line is really only playing 5-6 minutes.

At this point Matthews and Tavares should both be playing 20 minutes and if that 3rd line is going to look anything like the exhibition game they should be getting 12-15 too.

 

[Joe S.]

I have to admit I don?t feel confident about this series. I feel Columbus will be akin to the early 2000s leafs against the senators.

 

[ZBBM]

Gauthier what the hell.

 

[Redleaf]

I have to admit I don?t feel confident about this series. I feel Columbus will be akin to the early 2000s leafs against the senators.

I was sort of feeling the same. Especially after seeing Columbus beat the Bruins 4-1 in the exhibition game. However, regardless of their liabilities on defence , this is the most offensively gifted Leafs squad I?ve seen in my 40 years of watching. I?d still put them as the clear favourites in this match up. And, hey, regardless of the overall outcome here, the booby prize is a 1 in 8 chance of winning a lottery ticket to select Alexis Lafreniere. That?s how I?m looking at this whole qualifying round .  8)

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Playoff Hype Video

https://youtu.be/C0qzBEsNZKE

GLG

 

[Sandinius]

Playoff Hype Video

https://youtu.be/C0qzBEsNZKE

GLG

It worked,
I'm super hyped. 

Go Leafs Go!

 

[Zee]

Welp tonight's the night. It'll either be elation or heartbreak in here after the game. I can't believe how quickly I got into this no fan hockey. I watched every game yesterday

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Please, please, please no afternoon overtime games delaying the 8pm start.

 

[Highlander]

Welp tonight's the night. It'll either be elation or heartbreak in here after the game. I can't believe how quickly I got into this no fan hockey. I watched every game yesterday

I can't believe the tension in my gut, I am super nervous. 

 

[Bender]

I have to admit I don?t feel confident about this series. I feel Columbus will be akin to the early 2000s leafs against the senators.

I was sort of feeling the same. Especially after seeing Columbus beat the Bruins 4-1 in the exhibition game. However, regardless of their liabilities on defence , this is the most offensively gifted Leafs squad I?ve seen in my 40 years of watching. I?d still put them as the clear favourites in this match up. And, hey, regardless of the overall outcome here, the booby prize is a 1 in 8 chance of winning a lottery ticket to select Alexis Lafreniere. That?s how I?m looking at this whole qualifying round .  8)

I thought we didn't have any odds of winning?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Please, please, please no afternoon overtime games delaying the 8pm start.

The 3pm Philly-Boston round robin game is the only other one in Toronto today and it plays by regular season OT rules.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/Aportzline/status/1289953182077132801

Korpisalo paid his dues... by being a mostly mediocre back-up to Bobrovsky for many years. I was actually a little more worried about having to play Merzlikins. Having said that any goalie that plays against us seems to have an equal chance of stealing the game so it probably doesn't even matter.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Welp tonight's the night. It'll either be elation or heartbreak in here after the game. I can't believe how quickly I got into this no fan hockey. I watched every game yesterday

The best part was there was no idiot standing up in the 5th row waving at the camera trying to get on TV while talking to his friend on his cell phone.