Fans should anticipate a competitive game when the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers play tonight. Since both teams have been winning and losing alternately lately, it’s difficult to predict the result when the Maple Leafs are playing at home.
Without head coach John Tortorella due to a suspension, the visiting team will be led by associate coach Brad Shaw of the Flyers. They most recently defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on March 12. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, are looking to build on their March 9 3-2 victory against the Montreal Canadiens. They are well-rested while they play.
First item: Ilya Samsonov will initiate Ilya Samsonov will start in
goal for Toronto tonight. With a.934 save percentage, he has won his last three starts. He currently has a 17-5-6 record for the season, and he plans to build on his recent winning run. The offensive rating of the Flyers is 23rd in the league.
Samsonov will have another chance to boost his confidence in this game, and he’ll be looking to repeat his previous accomplishments and guide the squad to victory. The fact that Samsonov has returned to his previous, reliable form is intriguing and presents a good challenge for the squad. Joseph Woll has played poorly a few times lately, but those games have been against the hated Boston Bruins, who always seem to have the upper hand when it comes to the Maple Leafs.
Second item: Mitch Marner won’t be playing tonight
According to the most recent information, Mitch Marner is still out of commission for Thursday’s game despite having begun his skating due to a lower-body injury. He did not show up for practice on Wednesday either, indicating that he is not anticipated to be involved in the game.
In 62 games this season, Marner has 25 goals and 51 assists for 76 points. With Marner down, it appears that Calle Jarnkrok will replace Auston Matthews on the top line following yesterday’s practice. As previously mentioned, Marner did practice skating alone on Wednesday, so there’s a chance he’ll be ready for the Carolina Hurricanes game on Saturday.
Third item: Bobby McMann-signed Maple Leafs sign extension
The team acted quickly to sign Bobby McMann to a new $2.7 million two-year contract extension following his breakthrough performance in February. The forward, 27, was expected to be released without any restrictions. He has added significantly to the team’s secondary scoring and provided a tough, quick physical presence.
McMann has scored 10 goals, 18 points, 36 penalty minutes, and 84 hits in 40 games. He is averaging just over 10 minutes and 34 seconds of ice time each game while accomplishing all of this.
Item Four: Josh Ho-Sang Returns from a KHL Injury
Josh Ho-Sang had only appeared in one Kontinental Hockey League game for Ufa Salavat Yulayev and had sustained a shoulder injury when I last heard from him. The group desired his return, but there was a catch: he had to get Russian citizenship. He was unsure about that choice as I read. During the 2021–22 season, he made his North American hockey debut with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), tallying 16 goals and 35 points in 47 games.
The 28-year-old appears to have made his choice and is back in North America. With the title “SAME,” the former Marlies forward has “dropped” an 18-track rap CD. It’s interesting that one song honored “Papi for MVP.” Ho-Sang is referring to Auston Matthews, who goes by the moniker “Papi.” According to Ho-Sang, the song was motivated by Matthews’ fortitude following hand surgery, which mirrored his own journey of recuperation from a shoulder ailment.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Ho-Sang has co-founded Pick-Up Pro Sports (PUP) and worked in the field of “app development.” PUP is a platform that links people in their community with pick-up activities and games. It appears to have originated from Ho-Sang’s difficulties in finding practice partners and is intended to serve as a gathering place for athletes looking for daily action.
✍️ Josh Ho-Sang has signed the dotted line pic.twitter.com/opwjtv3B7x
— Florida Everblades (@FL_Everblades) March 13, 2024
Ho-Sang is committed to completing his hockey career, even in the face of obstacles like injuries and restricted playing time in recent seasons. It was announced this morning that he signed a deal on Wednesday with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.
What Does the Maple Leafs’ Future Hold?
The Maple Leafs play the Hurricanes at home on Saturday, March 16, following their game against the Flyers today. They will next travel for back-to-back away games on March 19 and 20, one against the local Washington Capitals and the other in Philadelphia for a repeat.
Eventually, on Saturday, March 23, they head back home to take on the formidable Edmonton Oilers. The squad will have an opportunity to solidify both their goaltender situation and defense lineup during these next five games. The group will also aim to gain some much-needed points in order to move up in the standings and guarantee a spot in the playoffs. It should be a great matchup between the Oilers and the team.
