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Game Day: Maple Leafs at Flames
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan
Game Day: Maple Leafs at Flames
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (40-21-4) at CALGARY FLAMES (41-17-7)
Monday, 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT), Scotiabank Saddledome,
TV: TSN4 (Toronto), Sportsnet West (Calgary)
Radio: 590 AM (Toronto), 960 AM (Calgary)
THE BIG MATCHUP
Morgan Rielly vs. Mark Giordano
Two contenders for the 2019 Norris Trophy will get a chance to prove themselves against each other, though each will be judged Monday night on how each fares against the other team’s top line. Rielly likely will have the shared task of trying to contain the Sean Monahan trio, while Giordano probably logs heavy even-strength minutes against John Tavares’ group. The 35-year-old Giordano has set a career high with 61 points, while Rielly has done the same with 62. Rielly needs one assist for 47 on the season, which also would be a personal best.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Strike first
Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock has been stressing the importance of scoring the opening goal and the Maple Leafs got on the board first against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, going on to win 5-2. It could be more crucial on Monday night as the Flames have won 31 games when taking a 1-0 lead, the second-most in the NHL, and the Leafs aren’t far behind at 27. Considering these teams tend to hold the lead when they get it early, for Toronto, that initial goal would be crucial, as the Leafs have won just twice in their past 10 visits.
2. Down to two
Auston Matthews has recorded a point against every NHL opponent, but has a couple of items he would like to cross off his bucket list, including scoring a goal against Calgary. Matthews has none in four career games, as the Flames and Philadelphia Flyers are the lone teams still to have kept him from putting the puck in the net. Matthews has gone three games without a goal and has 13 shot attempts in those games. Of Matthews’ 30 goals this season, 17 have been scored on the road in 24 games and he has five in eight matches versus Pacific Division clubs.
3. Containing Johnny Hockey
Johnny Gaudreau hasn’t been filling the net lately — he has one goal in his past 15 games — and historically has not been overly productive versus the Leafs, scoring one goal and recording three assists in seven games. Still, with his quickness and hockey IQ, Gaudreau often changes the tone of a game on one shift and the Leafs will have to be leery. Gaudreau has four assists in his past three games, but after scoring against the New York Islanders on Feb. 20 and recording seven shots on goal, has just seven shots on goal in his past five games.
4. Freddie on fire
Frederik Andersen not only has a fine career record against the Flames, the Leafs’ No. 1 netminder has been riding a hot streak, going 9-2-1 in his past 12 decisions. Versus Calgary, Andersen is 7-1-1 with a .916 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average. On paper, the game against the Flames represents the biggest challenge for the Leafs on their swing through Western Canada, though it’s worth taking into account Andersen has been fine versus Western Conference teams this season, going 12-6-1 with a .927 save percentage.
5. Matt on the mind
Matthew Tkachuk is bound to be a factor for the Leafs to take into consideration, whether it’s agitating or being around the net and making life a little more difficult for Andersen. It would have been beneficial for the Leafs to have Nazem Kadri to counter Tkachuk’s exuberance, but the centre is unlikely to return from a concussion until after he has had a full practice, and the Leafs were off on Sunday. Interestingly, Tkachuk has at least one point against every NHL opponent except Toronto, putting up zeroes in five career games.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Zach Hyman-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson-Auston Matthews-Kasperi Kapanen
Patrick Marleau-William Nylander-Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis-Frederik Gauthier-Trevor Moore
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin-Nikita Zaitsev
Martin Marincin-Igor Ozhiganov
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
FLAMES LINES
LW-C-RW
Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan-Elias Lindholm
Matthew Tkachuk-Mikael Backlund-Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett-Mark Jankowski-Austin Czarnik
Andrew Mangiapane-Derek Ryan-Garnet Hathaway
Defence pairs
Mark Giordano-T.J. Brodie
Noah Hanifin-Travis Hamonic
Oscar Fantenberg-Rasmus Andersson
Goaltenders
David Rittich
Mike Smith
INJURIES
Maple Leafs — C Nazem Kadri (concussion), D Jake Gardiner (back), D Travis Dermott (shoulder).
Flames — RW James Neal (lower body), D Michael Stone (blood clot), D Oliver Kylington (undisclosed).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Maple Leafs: 22.4% (8th)
Flames: 21.8% (11th)
Penalty kill
Maple Leafs: 80.4% (13th)
Flames: 79.5% (21st)
Monday NHL preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames
By Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Sun., March 3, 2019
SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME
FACEOFF: 9 p.m.
Monday NHL preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames | The Star
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/leafs/2019/03/03/monday-nhl-preview-toronto-maple-leafs-at-calgary-flames/marner_flames.jpg)
Mitch Marner and the Maple Leafs open a three-game western road swing in Calgary on Monday night. (Claus Andersen / GETTY IMAGES file photo)
TV: TSN
RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
KEY PLAYERS
Marner/Gaudreau
Winger Mitch Marner leads the Maple Leafs with 78 points (23 goals, 55 assists) and has seven points in his last three games … Calgary winger Johnny Gaudreau sits fourth in league scoring with 83 points (30 goals, 53 assists).
NEED TO KNOW
The Flames beat the Leafs 3-1 on Oct. 29 at Scotiabank Arena, led by two-point nights from Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm … The Flames lead the Western Conference with 89 points (41-17-7) but lost Saturday — 4-2 to the Wild, ending a seven-game win streak … Calgary’s Mikael Backlund has four goals and five assists in his last eight games … The Flames are without forward James Neal (lower body) plus defencemen Oliver Kylington (lower body) and Michael Stone (arm) … The Flames rank 11th on the power play (21.83 per cent) and 21st in penalty killing (79.51 per cent).
UP NEXT Wednesday at Vancouver Canucks, 9 p.m.
