Game Day: Maple Leafs at Jets
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan
Game Day: Maple Leafs at Jets
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS at WINNIPEG JETS
Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT), Bell MTS Place
TV: Sportsnet One.
Radio: 590 AM (Toronto), TSN 1290 (Winnipeg)
THE BIG MATCHUP
Auston Matthews vs. Patrik Laine
Matthews and Laine will be linked forever — or until one retires — after being taken first and second overall, respectively, in the 2016 NHL draft. Each insists the team wins come first, and that’s expected, but making the comparisons remains a fun exercise for others. Matthews has had a better start in 2018-19, but they are close overall: Matthews has 148 points in 153 career games and Laine has 139 points in 164 games. One or the other could decide the game.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Just one goal
The Leafs’ offensive output in their past two games — one goal — is their lowest in back-to-back matches since last December. There was an emphasis from coach Mike Babcock in practice the past few days simply on bearing down with more urgency, and that’s going to be crucial for the Toronto forward group against a Jets defence corps that is robust and mobile. And enough has been said about the Leafs’ desire to break out of their own zone with more efficiency.
2. Crease considerations
As Frederik Andersen comes off a pair of losses, the Leafs’ No. 1 goaltender might be heartened to know that the Jets are one of four NHL clubs that have not beaten him in regulation in his career. Andersen is 6-0-1 versus Winnipeg, not that Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck has been a slouch against the Leafs. Hellebuyck is 2-0-1 against Toronto, sporting a .918 save percentage.
3. Strength while even?
Both teams boast high-octane power-units that can decide a game — the Leafs have scored nine goals on 24 opportunities and the Jets eight goals on 25 opportunities — so the edge for Toronto could come at even-strength. The Leafs were leading the NHL prior to games on Tuesday with 21 goals while playing five-on-five, while the Jets scored 15 in similar circumstances. The Leafs have 234 scoring chances to the Jets’ 164.
4. Third’s the charm
If the Leafs find themselves holding a lead entering the third period (they are 4-0 when they do), the advice might be to not look over their shoulders. The Jets, through nine games, have become a lethal club in the final 20 minutes of regulation, scoring 15 goals, which was the most overall. Keep in mind that represents just a shade over half of Winnipeg’s 29 goals. For whatever reason, the Jets take a dip in the second period, scoring just five goals.
5. Ehlers on empty
Where Jets leading scorer Mark Scheifele is averaging a point a game to start the season (aided by a four-point night against St. Louis on Monday, tying a personal career high), Nikolaj Ehlers has been cold to the touch. Ehlers scored 29 goals last season yet does not have one in his past 26 games (including the playoffs last spring), but the Leafs should be leery. Ehlers is past due to break out.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Patrick Marleau-Auston Matthews-Kasperi Kapanen
Zach Hyman-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
Par Lindholm-Nazem Kadri-Connor Brown
Andreas Johnsson/Tyler Ennis-Frederik Gauthier-Josh Leivo
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott-Igor Ozhiganov
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
JETS LINES
LW-C-RW
Patrik Laine-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor-Bryan Little-Nikolaj Ehlers
Andrew Copp-Adam Lowry-Brandon Tanev
Brendan Lemieux-Jack Roslovic-Mathieu Perreault
Defence pairs
Josh Morrissey-Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot-Dustin Byfuglien
Joe Morrow-Tyler Myers
Goaltenders
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
INJURIES
Jets — None.
Maple Leafs — None.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Maple Leafs: 37.5% (2nd)
Jets: 32% (4th)
Penalty kill
Maple Leafs: 84% (6th)
Jets: 82.3% (10th)
