John Tavares notched his 999th and 1000th career point last week in a 4-3 overtime loss to his former team, the New York Islanders, on Long Island. Since then, the 33-year-old has not only added to his career point total, raising him in the NHL ranks for career points (now 97th on the all-time points list and 76th on the all-time goals list), but also putting together an impressive little point streak.
Tavares will have a chance to extend that point streak to eight games tonight with his famiy in the building for the night the Toronto Maple Leafs honour him for that incredible milestone he hit last Monday night against the Islanders. The Mississauga native has had a great career with Toronto ever since signing with the Maple Leafs to come home during the 2018 free agency, and with a season and a half left in that seven-year deal he signed, there’s just one thing left to do. Win the Stanley Cup.
When he signed that massive seven-year deal with the organization in 2018, many judged the contract and said he would be an overpayment by the fifth, sixth and seventh year. Well, in year six, Tavares is currently on pace for his best season since his first year with Toronto and third best season overall with 85 points.
In 28 games thus far, he has nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points, averaging the most ice time he’s had in nearly four years, and has been among one of the most consistent producers on this team this season. We all know Tavares isn’t the fastest out there on the ice, but his play down low, along the walls, and in front of the net, along with his hockey IQ, makes him such a great player.
Pregame details:
Maple Leafs’ lineup:
Matthew Knies – Auston Matthews – William Nylander
Tyler Bertuzzi – John Tavares – Mitch Marner
Nick Robertson – Max Domi – Calle Jarnkrok
Bobby McMann – David Kampf – Noah Gregor
Morgan Rielly – TJ Brodie
Jake McCabe – Timothy Liljegren
William Lagesson – Conor Timmins
Heading into tonight’s game, there was a little uncertainty surrounding TJ Brodie, who was recovering from the flu after missing the last game, and line rushes yesterday. Auston Matthews, who missed the last game too, took line rushes yesterday, so it was only Brodie who we were waiting on for confirmation whether he was suiting up.
Keefe confirmed to the media earlier this morning that both Matthews and Brodie are expected to suit up and return to the lineup against the Rangers.
Keefe says Matthews and Brodie expected to play tonight #Leafs
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) December 19, 2023
Rangers’ lineup:
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Blake Wheeler
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle – Nick Bonino – Jonny Brodzinski
Jimmy Vesey – Barclay Goodrow – Tyler Pitlick
Ryan Lingren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson – Braden Schneider
Projected goalies:
Martin Jones (TOR) vs Igor Shesterkin (NYR)
Martin Jones appears to be the projected starter tonight after exiting the ice first this morning while Ilya Samsonov stayed on. Jones, who started against the Rangers last week, is set to start in consecutive games for the first time this season and his third in the team’s previous four.
Martin Jones is the first goalie off the ice during the team’s optional skate. Samsonov staying out here.
Jones is the projected starter against the Rangers tonight. @BodogCA
— David Alter (@dalter) December 19, 2023
Broadcast:
TSN4, 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT
(Stats from Hockey-Reference.com)
(Projected lineups from DailyFaceoff.com)
