Toronto Maple Leafs News

Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz have split starts over the last four games for the Panthers, but Bobrovsky will start consecutive games for the first time in nearly two weeks on Friday. On Wednesday, Bobrovsky held on, saving 29 of 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars, giving him three straight wins and posting a stellar .933 SV% in the process. The Panthers are sizeable -157 home favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost three straight (0-1-2), scoring only five goals in that span.

With Erik Gudbranson missing his second straight game due to an illness, Blankenburg will make his season debut for the Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old Blankenburg has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 18 games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL this season.

Joel Armia is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pezzetta to re-enter the Canadiens' lineup. Pezzetta has not played since November 25th and had only one point (0G / 1A) in his last eight games.

With the news that Adam Boqvist (shoulder) has been placed on the Injured Reserve, Nick Blankenberg was recalled from Cleveland (AHL) for the first time this season. The 25-year-old defensemen appeared in 36 games for the Blue Jackets in 2022-23 and had four goals and 14 points. He had gotten off to an impressive start in the AHL so far, with three goals, 11 points, 20 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 18 games played prior to his promotion.

Merzlikins was surprisingly placed on the Injured Reserve Wednesday as he battles illness and is expected to be out for at least a week. The 29-year-old has been solid despite the team in front of him struggling this season as he is 6-8-4 with a .910 SV% and a 3.10 GAA. Jet Greaves has been recalled on an emergency basis from Cleveland (AHL) to replace Merzlikins.

Bobrovsky will take the crease Wednesday after backing up two of the Panthers' last three games and will look to build off his personal two-game winning streak after a 21 save (.955 SV%) victory in his last start. The 35-year-old has been the model of consistency this season, with his 11-6-1 record, 2.41 GAA and .912 SV%. He will take on the Dallas Stars, who are in a bit of a funk having lost four of their last six but are still seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.39).

Merzlikins will return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Merzlikins will likely return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Lettieri has seen his ice-time plummet, including several healthy scratches since John Hynes has taken over as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild. Before the coaching change, Lettieri averaged 11:04 time-on-ice, nearly two and a half minutes more than the 8:48 he has averaged since. In a corresponding move, Minnesota has recalled Dakota Mermis from Iowa (AHL).

Vinni Lettieri has been reassigned to the Iowa Wild (AHL) in favour of 29-year-old journeyman Mermis. Mermis spent 13 games wild Minnesota earlier this season, scoring five points (2G / 3A) and 21 penalty minutes.

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will likely start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Bobrovsky is coming off a light, 20-save performance against the Ottawa Senators on Monday, in which he recorded his second shutout of the season in a commanding 5-0 victory. Bobrovsky will return to the crease on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, a team he has been terrific against throughout his career, posting a 2.48 GAA and .921 SV% in 24 games (15-7-1). The Panthers are sizeable -244 road favourites against the Canadiens, who played last night in a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets and rank sixth-worst in the league offensively (2.77 GF / GP).