Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Islanders — Preview, Projected Lines & More

The Toronto Maple Leafs (21-10-7, riding a four-game winning streak) will face off against the New York Islanders (18-12-10) at UBS Arena. The game, scheduled for Thursday, January 11 at 7:00 PM ET, is expected to be a highly anticipated matchup in the NHL.

The Islanders will provide a formidable challenge for the Maple Leafs, who have recently faced the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks. Toronto’s head coach, Sheldon Keefe, acknowledged that it may take some time for the team to adjust to a different level of competition. Meanwhile, the Islanders have struggled in their recent games, suffering back-to-back 5-2 losses.

Due to an injury to Casey Cizikas, the Islanders will be shuffling their forward lines. The Brock Nelson – Kyle Palmieri – Pierre Engvall line, which has been producing positive results, will be broken up. Palmieri is set to join Mat Barzal and Simon Holmstrom, while Hudson Fasching will skate with Nelson and Engvall.

The Maple Leafs will be boosted by the availability of Matthew Knies, who appeared to suffer a serious leg injury during a practice session but has since confirmed that he is ready to play. Noah Gregor is also expected to return to the lineup after missing the last game due to illness. However, Nick Robertson will be out of the lineup, replaced by Pontus Holmberg.

In net, Sheldon Keefe will continue to rely on the impressive play of Martin Jones, who has won both games in a recent back-to-back series. Jones leads the league in Goals Saved Above Expected per 60 among goaltenders who have played over 10 games. Ilya Samsonov will serve as the backup goalie for the Maple Leafs, with the possibility of him starting the next game against Detroit on Sunday.

Both teams are aware of the challenges their opponents present. Keefe highlighted the Islanders’ aggressive offensive play, their strong goaltending, and their ability to defend the middle of the ice. The Maple Leafs will need to adjust their game accordingly.

The lineup shuffle for the Islanders reflects their desire to improve their performance. Head coach Lane Lambert expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s recent play and decided to make multiple changes. The Islanders will need to step up to compete against a strong Maple Leafs squad.

The game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Islanders promises to be an intense and exciting matchup. The Maple Leafs will look to extend their winning streak, while the Islanders will be eager to bounce back from their recent losses.