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Canucks at Maple Leafs game day
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan
Canucks at Maple Leafs game day
VANCOUVER CANUCKS (20-20-4) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (26-12-2)
7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena, CBC, The Fan 590
BIG MATCHUP
Jacob Markstrom vs. Michael Hutchinson
Where the Maple Leafs are on a learning curve with Michael Hutchinson, not so with the Canucks and Jacob Markstrom. The latter has been sharp in net for the past month, registering a save percentage below .925 in just two of his 10 games. Only once did Markstrom, who is 1-2-1 with a .917 save percentage against the Leafs in five career games, give up more than two goals over that span. Hutchinson, meanwhile, is 3-1-0 versus Vancouver in his career, with a 1.77 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Back the backup
Against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, the Maple Leafs, especially early in the game, figured Hutchinson could handle himself just fine and often were poor in the defensive zone. Toronto was better as the game progressed, but having the proper effort through a full 60 minutes would make coach Mike Babcock a happier man. Vancouver will be looking to end a six-game trip well (they’re 3-2-0), while the Leafs will try to avoid losing three in row for the first time this season.
2. Depth charges
The Leafs pride themselves on depth, even with Zach Hyman and Tyler Ennis out, and it’s an area that could see them through Saturday night. With leading scorer Elias Pettersson nursing an injury, the Canucks have just three forwards — Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Nikolay Goldobin (who has been a healthy scratch) — with more than 18 points. The Leafs have six. Among those, though, is Nazem Kadri, who has just nine goals in 40 games and only two in his past 22. In 10 career games against Vancouver, Kadri has one goal and one assist.
3. Matthews matters
Now that William Nylander finally has found the back of the net, how about linemate Auston Matthews? Going under the radar to an extent in the past little while has been Matthews’ dry spell, as the Leafs all-star hasn’t scored in the past five games. Matthews has played in 26 games this season, and that drought matches his high for 2018-19. Still, he remains dangerous with 10 shots on goal in his past two games, and the Canucks will have to make him a priority each time he takes a shift, whether at even-strength or on the power play.
4. Life of Rielly
For the first time this season, Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly has gone three games without a point. Against the Canucks, there is some added boost, as Rielly grew up in West Vancouver and returns to the area in the off-season. “We tend to play them on Hockey Night (In Canada), so there is always lots of energy,” Rielly said. “For me personally, playing against them is fun always, from growing up in Vancouver, so it’s exciting. Big points on the line.” Oddly, the Canucks are one of six NHL teams Rielly hasn’t scored against.
5. No kidding, Elias
Count Babcock as a big fan of excellent Canucks rookie Pettersson, and though the Leafs would love the challenge of trying to stop the 20-year-old, that will have to wait as Pettersson has suffered a right knee injury. His absence will be a large hole for the Canucks, and Babcock knows what Vancouver will be missing. “He’s smarter than everybody else so he can stand still and create space,” Babcock said. “You can say lots of things about him. He has the puck the whole time.”
MAPLE LEAFS’ LINES
LW-C-RW
Andreas Johnsson-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Connor Brown-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Kasperi Kapanen
Par Lindholm-Frederik Gauthier-Trevor Moore
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott-Igor Ozhiganov
Goaltenders
Michael Hutchinson
To be determined
CANUCKS LINES
LW-C-RW
Sven Baertschi-To be determined-Brock Boeser
Antoine Roussel-Bo Horvat-Loui Eriksson
Markus Granlund-Brandon Sutter-Jake Virtanen
Tim Schaller-Jay Beagle-Tyler Motte
Defence pairs
Alexander Edler-Chris Tanev
Ben Hutton-Erik Gudbranson
Michael Del Zotto-Troy Stecher
Goaltenders
Jacob Markstrom
Thatcher Demko
INJURIES
Canucks — C Elias Pettersson (knee), LW Josh Leivo (back).
Maple Leafs — LW Zach Hyman (ankle), F Tyler Ennis (ankle), G Garret Sparks (concussion), G Frederik Andersen (groin).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Canucks: 17.9% (20th)
Maple Leafs: 22.9% (9th)
Penalty kill
Canucks: 78% (20th)
Maple Leafs: 79.8% (16th)
