Date: December 18th, 2024
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX.
The Toronto Maple Leafs (19-10-2) are set to face the Dallas Stars (19-9-2) tonight at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Both teams are performing well this season, making this matchup highly anticipated.
Recent Performances
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The Maple Leafs are coming off a 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Former captain John Tavares led the team with a hat trick to carry his team to the win. This victory has placed Toronto in a tie with the Florida Panthers for the Atlantic Division lead with a game in hand. The Maple Leafs are 13-7 since the start of November and have scored 2 goals or more in each of their last 5 games.
- Dallas Stars: The Stars secured a 3-1 win against the Washington Capitals in their last outing. Roope Hintz was instrumental, scoring two goals. 20 year old Swiss defender Lian Bichsel also secured his 2nd goal in his 3rd game this year fuelling momentum into this Stars blue line. Dallas currently sits third in the Central Division, nine points behind the Winnipeg Jets and six points behind the Minnesota Wild.
Key Players to Watch
- Toronto Maple Leafs:
- John Tavares: Fresh off a hat trick, Tavares is a pivotal player for Toronto’s forward group with both his defensive and offensive capabilities.
- Joseph Woll: With goaltender Anthony Stolarz placed on injured reserve due to a lower body injury, Woll is expected to start. He boasts a 2.24 goals against average and a .918 save percentage this season.
- Dallas Stars:
- Roope Hintz: Coming off a two goal performance, Hintz is a key offensive threat for Dallas. He needs to remain hot in Tyler Seguins absence.
- Jake Oettinger: The Stars goaltender has been reliable, stopping 25 of 26 shots in the recent win against Washington and helping his team the game before with a 2-1 OT win. On home ice Oettinger has a record of 12-2-0 in 14 games with a goals against average of 1.92 and a save percentage of .928.
Measuring the Offence vs the Defence
- Offense: The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 17th in the league in goals per game, averaging 2.97, while the Dallas Stars sit at 10th with 3.23 goals per game.
- Defense: Dallas boasts a stronger defense, allowing 2.50 goals per game and ranks best in the NHL, compared to Toronto’s 2.61 goals per game ranking them 6th in the NHL.
These are two very defensive teams that operate a smooth system and run their units with finesse. On paper this has all the ingredients of a low scoring, playoff style match.
Injury Updates
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Goaltender Anthony Stolarz is on injured reserve due to a lower body injury sustained during the game against the Anaheim Ducks. He is eligible to return on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres.
- Dallas Stars: Tyler Seguin is still out on LTIR but the Stars are dealing with some injuries on defence with both Matt Dumba still ruled out and Thomas Harley will be a game time decision.
Conclusion
With both teams showcasing strong performances this season, tonight’s matchup between the Maple Leafs and the Stars promises to be an exciting contest. Fans can look forward to a competitive game as these two teams battle for supremacy in their respective divisions.
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