See more MLHS in Google Add MLHS as a preferred source + Add Before embarking on a difficult road trip, the Maple Leafs are hoping to salvage a split of their season-opening four-game homestand tonight against the Nashville Predators (7:00 p.m. EST, TSN4). <\/p>\n
No such thing as a must-win in game four of the season, but starting 1-3-0 at home ahead of the VGK-COL-UTA road trip is certainly\u2026 unappealing.<\/p>\n
Anthony Stolarz will start in goal\u2014part of the plan from the outset, according to head coach Jim Hiller.<\/p>\n
Game Day Quotes <\/p>\n
Jim Hiller on the challenge against the Predators:<\/p>\n
Saros has got a long history in the league as being one of the better goaltenders. Josi has been a perennial All-Star. Stamkos, perennial All-Star. Those scoring threats, and then the goaltender who makes it hard on you.<\/p>\n
Andrew Brunette on facing a much-changed Leafs<\/a> team: <\/p>\n They still have Matthews, Tavares, and Nylander, and they drive a lot. A lot of things are pretty similar in that respect. We have to respect who they are and how they play.<\/p>\n I think their power play scares me a little bit. We have to stay out of the box, especially when they\u2019ve added Marchenko into that mix. He is a pretty special scorer who is pretty lethal there.<\/p>\n Their top two lines are heavy skill and their bottom two lines have an identity. They are trying to find themselves, too, like every team in the league right now.<\/p>\n Brunette on Gavin McKenna: <\/p>\n I have watched him a little bit in college and junior. He is a highly skilled player. With some of the things he sees, his playmaking ability is pretty elite. For a young player, at times, he looks really comfortable. We have to make him feel uncomfortable tonight.<\/p>\n Brunette on the keys for the Predators\u2019 PK against the Leafs<\/a>\u2019 PP:<\/p>\n Stay out of the box.<\/p>\n Gavin McKenna on the biggest challenges of transitioning to the NHL:<\/p>\n I\u2019d say probably just trying to get to the middle of the ice. It\u2019s a tough league, and there\u2019s not a whole lot of time and space. When you get those chances to find the middle of the ice, they don\u2019t come very often, so you\u2019ve got to make sure you\u2019re there and you\u2019re ready when you get that chance.<\/p>\n And just being simple. I think in juniors and college, you can kind of get away with trying to make moves at the blue line and stuff like that, and not getting the puck deep. But here, you only get so many chances a game. If you don\u2019t make that play, then the puck\u2019s probably back in your own end, and you\u2019re playing in the D-zone, and then you\u2019re off the ice. You\u2019ve got to be smart with your decisions.<\/p>\n McKenna on his welcome-to-the-NHL moment:<\/p>\n I think just how hard it is. You come in, you believe in yourself, and I still believe in myself. But especially in the Toronto media, with putting up zero points in three games, I think you hear about it. Maybe that\u2019s my welcome to the NHL.<\/p>\n McKenna on staying patient as he looks for his first NHL point:<\/p>\n It\u2019s obviously not where you want to be, but at the end of the day, I\u2019ve been on many streaks where I\u2019ve put up no points. I had a tough start to college last year and started to figure things out there. Morgan Rielly on the team\u2019s first three games:<\/p>\n If you watch the pace and the effort and the commitment, it\u2019s all there. I think there\u2019s probably room to improve when it comes to execution. Part of that is just it\u2019s a new year and new players, new coaches and stuff, so I think it might just take a bit longer than normal. Ultimately, I think everyone is on board, and I think we\u2019re going in the right direction. If we can clean up a couple things, we\u2019ll be off and running.<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 regular season Maple Leafs vs. Predators: By the Numbers Swipe the table to compare teams. <\/p>\n \u00d7 34 Auston Matthews \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 <\/p>\n C \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 3 in \u00b7 214 lb<\/p>\n Age: 29 \u00b7 Born 1997-09-17 \u00b7 San Ramon, CA, USA<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $13,250,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Kirill Marchenko, Jack Roslovic<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 1G 0A 1PTS -1+\/- 3.3SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 57.7%5v5 CF% 50.0%5v5 GF% 0.33PTS\/GP 51.2%FO% <\/p>\n 21:29TOI\/GP16:25EVTOI\/GP4:44PPTOI\/GP0:20PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 29 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Bo Groulx \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n C\/LW \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 2 in \u00b7 202 lb<\/p>\n Age: 26 \u00b7 Born 2000-02-06 \u00b7 Rouen, FRA<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $812,500<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 2GP 0G 0A 0PTS 0+\/- 1.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 53.1%5v5 CF% N\/A5v5 GF% 0.00PTS\/GP 66.7%FO% <\/p>\n 8:36TOI\/GP7:53EVTOI\/GP0:00PPTOI\/GP0:43PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 24 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Brandon Duhaime \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 <\/p>\n LW \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 2 in \u00b7 213 lb<\/p>\n Age: 29 \u00b7 Born 1997-05-22 \u00b7 Coral Springs, FL, USA<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $2,600,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Teddy Blueger, Bo Groulx<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 0A 0PTS 0+\/- 0.7SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 36.5%5v5 CF% N\/A5v5 GF% 0.00PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 11:11TOI\/GP8:27EVTOI\/GP0:00PPTOI\/GP2:45PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 15 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Colton Sissons \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n C\/RW \u00b7 Shoots: R \u00b7 6 ft 1 in \u00b7 207 lb<\/p>\n Age: 32 \u00b7 Born 1993-11-05 \u00b7 North Vancouver, BC, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $4,250,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Easton Cowan, Nick Paul<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 1G 0A 1PTS -1+\/- 2.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 61.5%5v5 CF% 33.3%5v5 GF% 0.33PTS\/GP 56.5%FO% <\/p>\n 13:35TOI\/GP10:29EVTOI\/GP0:00PPTOI\/GP3:06PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 53 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Easton Cowan \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n LW\/RW \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 0 in \u00b7 189 lb<\/p>\n Age: 21 \u00b7 Born 2005-05-20 \u00b7 Mount Brydges, ON, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $900,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Nick Paul, Colton Sissons<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 1G 2A 3PTS 1+\/- 1.3SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 70.0%5v5 CF% 66.6%5v5 GF% 1.00PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 13:49TOI\/GP11:17EVTOI\/GP2:01PPTOI\/GP0:31PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 92 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Gavin McKenna \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n LW \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 5 ft 11 in \u00b7 164 lb<\/p>\n Age: 18 \u00b7 Born 2007-12-20 \u00b7 Whitehorse, YT, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $1,075,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: John Tavares, William Nylander<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 0A 0PTS -3+\/- 1.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 37.8%5v5 CF% 0.0%5v5 GF% 0.00PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 14:32TOI\/GP12:06EVTOI\/GP2:25PPTOI\/GP0:02PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 96 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Jack Roslovic \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 <\/p>\n RW \u00b7 Shoots: R \u00b7 6 ft 1 in \u00b7 195 lb<\/p>\n Age: 29 \u00b7 Born 1997-01-29 \u00b7 Columbus, OH, USA<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $4,000,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Kirill Marchenko, Auston Matthews<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 1A 1PTS 1+\/- 2.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 58.7%5v5 CF% 100.0%5v5 GF% 0.33PTS\/GP 62.5%FO% <\/p>\n 15:59TOI\/GP13:25EVTOI\/GP2:34PPTOI\/GP0:00PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 91 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n John Tavares \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n C \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 1 in \u00b7 211 lb<\/p>\n Age: 36 \u00b7 Born 1990-09-20 \u00b7 Mississauga, ON, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $4,389,280<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Gavin McKenna, William Nylander<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 2A 2PTS -2+\/- 2.7SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 44.0%5v5 CF% 40.0%5v5 GF% 0.67PTS\/GP 43.2%FO% <\/p>\n 17:12TOI\/GP12:55EVTOI\/GP4:16PPTOI\/GP0:02PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 86 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Kirill Marchenko \ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa <\/p>\n RW\/LW \u00b7 Shoots: R \u00b7 6 ft 3 in \u00b7 201 lb<\/p>\n Age: 26 \u00b7 Born 2000-07-21 \u00b7 Barnaul, RUS<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $3,850,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Auston Matthews, Jack Roslovic<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 1G 1A 2PTS -1+\/- 3.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 56.9%5v5 CF% 50.0%5v5 GF% 0.67PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 19:17TOI\/GP15:02EVTOI\/GP4:15PPTOI\/GP0:00PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 20 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Nick Paul \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n C\/LW \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 3 in \u00b7 225 lb<\/p>\n Age: 31 \u00b7 Born 1995-03-20 \u00b7 Mississauga, ON, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $3,150,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Easton Cowan, Colton Sissons<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 1A 1PTS -2+\/- 1.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 59.6%5v5 CF% 25.0%5v5 GF% 0.33PTS\/GP 44.0%FO% <\/p>\n 16:06TOI\/GP10:46EVTOI\/GP2:25PPTOI\/GP2:54PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 73 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger \ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddfb <\/p>\n C \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 0 in \u00b7 185 lb<\/p>\n Age: 32 \u00b7 Born 1994-08-15 \u00b7 Riga, LVA<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $2,500,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Brandon Duhaime, Bo Groulx<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 0A 0PTS 0+\/- 0.3SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 37.8%5v5 CF% N\/A5v5 GF% 0.00PTS\/GP 36.8%FO% <\/p>\n 10:54TOI\/GP8:09EVTOI\/GP0:00PPTOI\/GP2:45PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 88 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n William Nylander \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea <\/p>\n RW \u00b7 Shoots: R \u00b7 6 ft 0 in \u00b7 200 lb<\/p>\n Age: 30 \u00b7 Born 1996-05-01 \u00b7 Calgary, AB, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $11,500,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: Gavin McKenna, John Tavares<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 2G 1A 3PTS -2+\/- 2.7SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 42.3%5v5 CF% 42.8%5v5 GF% 1.00PTS\/GP 25.0%FO% <\/p>\n 19:16TOI\/GP14:40EVTOI\/GP4:11PPTOI\/GP0:25PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 19 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Zack MacEwen \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n RW \u00b7 Shoots: R \u00b7 6 ft 4 in \u00b7 226 lb<\/p>\n Age: 30 \u00b7 Born 1996-07-08 \u00b7 Charlottetown, PE, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $875,000<\/p>\n Current Linemates \u2197<\/a>: N\/A<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 1GP 0G 0A 0PTS 0+\/- 0.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 0.0%5v5 CF% N\/A5v5 GF% 0.00PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 5:25TOI\/GP5:25EVTOI\/GP0:00PPTOI\/GP0:00PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 8 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Chris Tanev \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n D \u00b7 Shoots: R \u00b7 6 ft 3 in \u00b7 199 lb<\/p>\n Age: 36 \u00b7 Born 1989-12-20 \u00b7 Toronto, ON, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $4,500,000<\/p>\n Current Partner \u2197<\/a>: Jake McCabe<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 0A 0PTS 0+\/- 0.3SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 40.5%5v5 CF% N\/A5v5 GF% 0.00PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 18:55TOI\/GP15:05EVTOI\/GP0:04PPTOI\/GP3:47PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 43 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Darren Raddysh \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n D \u00b7 Shoots: R \u00b7 6 ft 1 in \u00b7 204 lb<\/p>\n Age: 30 \u00b7 Born 1996-02-28 \u00b7 Toronto, ON, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $8,500,000<\/p>\n Current Partner \u2197<\/a>: Morgan Rielly<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 1A 1PTS -3+\/- 3.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 58.5%5v5 CF% 33.3%5v5 GF% 0.33PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 22:23TOI\/GP17:32EVTOI\/GP4:45PPTOI\/GP0:05PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 22 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Jake McCabe \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 <\/p>\n D \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 1 in \u00b7 205 lb<\/p>\n Age: 32 \u00b7 Born 1993-10-12 \u00b7 Eau Claire, WI, USA<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $4,513,102<\/p>\n Current Partner \u2197<\/a>: Chris Tanev<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 0A 0PTS 0+\/- 1.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 46.2%5v5 CF% N\/A5v5 GF% 0.00PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 16:34TOI\/GP13:10EVTOI\/GP0:10PPTOI\/GP3:14PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 44 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Morgan Rielly \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n D \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 1 in \u00b7 224 lb<\/p>\n Age: 32 \u00b7 Born 1994-03-09 \u00b7 Vancouver, BC, CAN<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $7,500,000<\/p>\n Current Partner \u2197<\/a>: Darren Raddysh<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n 3GP 0G 3A 3PTS -2+\/- 1.0SOG\/GP <\/p>\n 53.1%5v5 CF% 33.3%5v5 GF% 1.00PTS\/GP <\/p>\n 19:54TOI\/GP17:01EVTOI\/GP2:01PPTOI\/GP0:52PKTOI\/GP<\/p>\n \u00d7 3 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Nick Blankenburg \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 <\/p>\n D \u00b7 Shoots: R \u00b7 5 ft 9 in \u00b7 179 lb<\/p>\n Age: 28 \u00b7 Born 1998-05-12 \u00b7 Washington, MI, USA<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $1,400,000<\/p>\n Current Partner \u2197<\/a>: N\/A<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL regular season<\/p>\n No NHL regular-season stats recorded for 2026\u201327.<\/p>\n \u00d7 95 <\/p>\n Maple Leafs player card<\/p>\n Oliver Ekman-Larsson \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea <\/p>\n D \u00b7 Shoots: L \u00b7 6 ft 2 in \u00b7 191 lb<\/p>\n Age: 35 \u00b7 Born 1991-07-17 \u00b7 Karlskrona, SWE<\/p>\n Drafted: Loading\u2026<\/p>\n 2026\u201327 NHL Cap Hit: $3,500,000<\/p>\n
\u201cI think just honestly learning from last year and learning from these first few games is going to be key, and just sticking with it, being confident. I know it\u2019s going to come, so just keep working and have confidence.<\/p>\n