Prior to leaving for the east coast, I spoke with a pair of former Maple Leafs to learn more about their thoughts of returning to face their former team. After speaking with Ben Scrivens earlier last week, I spoke with Matt Frattin on Sunday in advance of tonight’s game at the Air Canada Centre.
There is no certainty that Frattin, a right wing, will play tonight, as the Kings were 6-0 winners over the Montreal Canadiens in a game in which the second, third and fourth line right wings each scored. While logging a season-high 17:31 of ice time in a 2-1 overtime loss to New Jersey on November 21, he suffered a lower-body injury that caused him to miss four games. He hasn’t surpassed the 10-minute mark since returning from injury and didn’t dress in last night’s lopsided win.
There’s a good chance he returns to the lineup tonight to face his old team, which should provide an added perk for the 25-year-old.
On playing against Toronto:
You know a lot of guys on their team and I’m sure it’s going to be a good game. They’re a pretty good team in the East and we’re a good team in the West. I kind of know how they play. We’re going to put our best foot forward. We have to try and take the crowd and the atmosphere out of the game early.
On whether he’ll provide some information on his former team to the coaching staff:
No, nothing really. We do video. Every year, every month teams are changing their systems or tightening things up. They’re always changing it, so it’s not going to be the same as it was last year.
On what he is looking forward to when they play in Toronto:
I have some cousins and uncles down there and definitely just playing in the building. It’s a great place to play. It’s kind of like Madison Square Garden where it’s the same thing. It’s definitely a pretty historic team and city for hockey.
On playing the Maple Leafs:
You look forward to when you’re playing your ex-team always and definitely it’s the first time going back and I’m going to be excited to play. [Reporter: How many tickets did you get for people?] No, I kept it pretty short, just four. They’re expensive there. None of that, not branching too far out.
On handling the Toronto media:
I know a lot of the media guys there and they’re all great guys. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot.
On the environment of being a hockey player in Toronto:
Especially when we were on that playoff run, that’s all you see is hockey in Canada, especially Toronto. Everybody knows who you are and everybody’s pulling for you and if your team’s winning everybody’s behind you. But if your team’s losing, kind of on a losing streak, you definitely hear it too. So you definitely have to keep a level head when playing there.
On if he is recognized in Los Angeles:
No. Nothing around here, which is good. It’s good to get away sometimes. It’s definitely totally different from Toronto. It’s not like Toronto.
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