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Game 6 Preview: Colorado Avalanche @ Toronto Maple Leafs

By Cheryl Bradley
Game 6 preview
Game 6 preview

NOTE: Graphic has an error. The game is at 5 pm MT/7 pm ET.

Tonight will be bittersweet. Avs fans will get to see two of their favorites from last season show how well they're doing now. Unfortunately, they will be on the other side of the battlefield. John-Michael Liles has quickly endeared himself to the hearts of Leafs' fans for all the same things we loved him here in Colorado. Philippe Dupuis, centering Toronto's fourth line, continues to bring that blue collar work ethic every night. Both have surely put money up on the board as incentive to their new teammates to hand their old ones their first loss in this 5-game road trip.

However, that won't be the only money on a board tonight. Jean-Sebastian Giguere is returning to Toronto for his first game against the team for which he played last season and a part of the one before it. While with the Leafs, Jiggy posted a respectable .908 save % and 2.68 GAA. Choosing to go younger, however, the Leafs turned to rookie netminder, James Reimer for 2011-2012.

In what has become the Avalanche's best start since 2001, they are looking to wrap up this road trip 5-0. The Maple Leafs are fighting to go undefeated on the season. Although Toronto has won 2 of the last 3 meetings between the two teams, the Avs have the advantage of winning every game in their building since March 2004.

Hot for Toronto is Phil Kessel, who has notched 8 pts already. The Avs have received offense across the board with 5 different players tied for the most points with 4 each: Ryan O'Reilly, Ryan Wilson, David Jones, Milan Hejduk and Erik Johnson.

Here's a peak at the Leaf's projected line up for tonight:

 

Lupul - Bozak - Kessel

MacArthur - Grabovski - Kulemin

Frattin - Lombardi - Armstrong

Steckel - Dupuis - Rosehill/Brown

 

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf

Liles - Schenn/Komisarek

Franson - Komisarek/Schenn

 

Reimer

 

 

The Avs' line up is expected to remain the same with the exception of T.J. Galiardi returning in favor of Kevin Porter and, of course, Giguere in net.