Toronto Maple Leafs Announce Lineup Against Canadiens with Notable Surprise
The Toronto Maple Leafs have confirmed their starting lineup for the preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens.
And what stands out immediately is that the lineup already looks a lot like a regular season roster.
The Canadiens will have a tough task tonight against Toronto. We recently told you about the lineup the Habs will be rolling out. In fact, the Leafs have also revealed their lineup, and it resembles (with a few exceptions) their final regular season roster.
Notably, Matthew Knies, Max Domi, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly are part of this lineup. The mustached Auston Matthews was on the ice, but according to David Alter, he is not expected to play in the game.
The surprise comes from the fact that Michael Pezzetta, a former Canadiens player, is included in such a strong Maple Leafs lineup.
The Maple Leafs' Starting Lineup Against the Montreal Canadiens
Here are the confirmed lines from the morning skate:
Forwards
Knies - Domi - Robertson
Järnkrok - Tavares - Nylander
Joshua - Roy - Maccelli
Pezzetta - Quillan - Valis
(Matthews skated, but is not expected to play)
Defensemen
Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Tanev
Ekman-Larsson - Benning
Benoit (red jersey)
Goaltenders
Stolarz
Akhtyamov
Knies - Domi - Robertson
Järnkrok - Tavares - Nylander
Joshua - Roy - Maccelli
Pezzetta - Quillan - Valis
(Matthews skated, but is not expected to play)
Defensemen
Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Tanev
Ekman-Larsson - Benning
Benoit (red jersey)
Goaltenders
Stolarz
Akhtyamov
This type of lineup proves that Toronto is taking this preseason matchup seriously, especially since the two teams will face off again in the official season opener.
I'm eager to see if the Canadiens can pull the same trick on the Leafs that was played on them earlier this week, when Toronto, with a less experienced lineup, managed to humiliate the Canadiens.
I also think that seeing so many regular starters in uniform makes this game particularly interesting to evaluate the Canadiens' depth.
Forwards
Bolduc - Newhook - Kapanen
Blais - Veleno - Beck
Farrell - Belzile - Thorpe
Dauphin - Condotta - Kidney
Defensemen
Xhekaj - Carrier
Struble - Hutson
Del Gaizo - Engstrom
Goalies
Kahkonen
Fowler
Bolduc - Newhook - Kapanen
Blais - Veleno - Beck
Farrell - Belzile - Thorpe
Dauphin - Condotta - Kidney
Defensemen
Xhekaj - Carrier
Struble - Hutson
Del Gaizo - Engstrom
Goalies
Kahkonen
Fowler
Even if it's "just a preseason game," I believe the intensity could be there and give a taste of the real show to come in the regular season.
TRENDING NOW
