Scouting the Enemy: Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: 18-23-8

Leading scorers: Nik Antropov (14G, 22A), Jason Blake (16G, 19A)

Blogs:  Pension Plan Puppets | Maple Leaf Hot Stove

December 20.  Remember that date?  Yeah me either.  That wasn't the day the Maple Leafs beat the Pens 7-3.  That wasn't the day Ruslan Fedotenko went after Andre Deveaux after he backed down from an Eric Godard challenge.  December 20?  That date isn't even on my calendar.

But I do recall one other date.  Yes, it's all very clear to me.  October 18, Pens win 4-1 and Sid scores his 100th goal. 

Mark my words - Sid will score his 200th tonight.

Yup.

All right, let's get serious.  There's a good chance we will see Mathieu Garon in net tonight.  Is this good, is this bad?  Who knows.  But chances are the Pens will start their new backup since 1) This is the second game in a back-to-back run and 2) It's not a division game.  Of course that doesn't mean Michel Therrien hasn't surprised us before, but something tells me this is Garon's Pittsburgh debut.

Andre Deveau.  If Matt Cooke were in the lineup this would be his sort of matchup.  Unfortunately he's still suspended.  Godard may be well out of his weight class, but perhaps God will try to pick a fight anyways.  He tried last time.  If the fight against Colton Orr during the Rangers game from earlier this week proves anything, it's that Godard never forgets.  Deveau backed down from a few challenges last time.  This could get interesting.