Breaking: Leafs scratch Gauthier and continue auditions on the fourth line

Welcome the Smurf line!

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HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Breaking: Leafs scratch Gauthier and continue auditions on the fourth line
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The Toronto Leafs are coming off Monday’s 6-2 win over the Flames in Calgary, in which Tyler Ennis recorded his first hat trick to overshadow Mitch Marner becoming the first Leaf to hit the 80-point plateau since Phil Kessel in 2013-14.

Ennis sure stole the spotlight and head coach Mike Babcock is making sure his fourth line remains strong as Nic Petan is inserted back into the lineup for tonight's matchup against the Canucks in Vancouver. 

As Mark Masters of TSN reports, the Leafs are expected to sit Frederik Gauthier and insert Petan back in on the fourth line as Babcock continues his last trio's auditions ahead of the playoffs. 

People on social media were quick to notice that the Leafs' fourth line will be one of the smallest one in the league as they face the Canucks tonight. One even named them the Smurf line. 

Nic Petan is 5'9 and will centre a line with Ennis (5'9) and Trevor Moore (5'10).



Here is the Leafs' projected lineup for tonight:

LEAFS’ LINES 

Forwards
Zach Hyman — John Tavares — Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson — Auston Matthews — Kasperi Kapanen
Patrick Marleau — William Nylander — Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis — Nic Petan — Trevor Moore

Defense
Morgan Reilly — Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin — Nikita Zaitsev
Martin Marincin — Igor Ozhiganov

Goalies: Frederik Andersen, Garret Sparks

Source: Twitter