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Game Day: Oilers at Maple Leafs
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan
Game Day: Oilers at Maple Leafs
EDMONTON OILERS (26-29-7) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (38-20-4)
Wednesday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
TV: Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360
Radio: 590 AM (Toronto), 630 CHED (Edmonton)
THE BIG MATCHUP
Connor McDavid vs. Auston Matthews
We’ll see whether it’s a matchup in a true sense — Mike Babcock likely will pit John Tavares against Connor McDavid — but having the rare opportunity to watch two of the NHL’s top young superstars in McDavid and Auston Matthews in the same game will be a treat. Matthews has seven goals in his past 10 games and McDavid will be uncaged after serving a two-game suspension for an illegal check on the New York Islanders’ Nick Leddy. In five career games against the Leafs, McDavid has four goals and four assists, but has been frustrated at times by Nazem Kadri, who won’t play because of a concussion.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Hit the ground running
The Leafs have gone five games without scoring a goal in the first period, but managed to win the past two after losing three in a row. Apparently, the lack of early goals is not a concern for Mike Babcock now, though it could become one. The Leafs are too good for the dearth to continue. “We didn’t talk about it (on Tuesday),” Babcock said. “We didn’t generate any offence in the first period (against Buffalo on Monday) at all. In the previous games, we had generated quite a bit, we hadn’t scored. Our starts are important but we did not address that.”
2. Leon lying in wait
Don’t let the fact that Leon Draisaitl has no points against the Leafs in six career games — the lone NHL opponent that has kept him off the scoresheet since he made his debut in 2014 — be a distraction. With 38 goals in 62 games, Draisaitl is on pace for 50, and with 76 points, is one shy of tying his career high. In just one of the past 11 games has Draisaitl not had a point, and while the Leafs have every right to be concerned with Connor McDavid, Draisaitl will be a handful. It probably falls on Auston Matthews to help keep him in check.
3. No advantage, man
The Leafs didn’t score on their only man advantage against Buffalo and continue to find themselves at the bottom of the NHL in power-play opportunities with 161, tying them for fewest with Dallas before games on Tuesday. We would imagine Babcock will stress the fact the Oilers aren’t too efficient at killing penalties on the road, coming in at 74.3% for 30th overall. Finding another gear of intensity could help the Leafs, especially in the opening 20 minutes.
4. Third parties allowed
The Leafs continue to be the only NHL team with a perfect record when leading after two periods, going 29-0-0. Toronto also owns a goal-differential of plus-22 in the third, which was second in the NHL. The Oilers, not surprisingly, aren’t a club that rallies often, compiling a mark of 4-23-3 when trailing after two periods, and Edmonton is a minus-11 in goal differential in the final 20 minutes. There is potential for the Oilers, though, as they are 8-4-1 when tied after 40 minutes.
5. Go fourth
Though Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Matthews drive the Leafs on offence, Toronto’s fourth line has provided a boost in recent games and got quicker with the addition of Trevor Moore, who was promoted when Par Lindholm was traded to Winnipeg. Edmonton’s depth at forward falls off quickly, and there could be another strong night on tap for Frederik Gauthier’s trio. Tyler Ennis has scored in back-to-back games for the first time since October 2015 and could have further motivation against his hometown team.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Zach Hyman-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson-Auston Matthews-Kasperi Kapanen
Patrick Marleau-William Nylander-Connor Brown
Trevor Moore-Frederik Gauthier-Tyler Ennis
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin-Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott-Igor Ozhiganov
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
OILERS LINES
LW-C-RW
Ty Rattie-Connor McDavid-Zack Kassian
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Leon Draisaitl-Alex Chiasson
Tobias Rieder-Colby Cave-Sam Gagner
Milan Lucic-Kyle Brodziak-Josh Currie
Defence pairs
Oscar Klefbom-Adam Larsson
Darnell Nurse-Kris Russell
Andrej Sekera-Matt Benning
Goaltenders
Mikko Koskinen
Anthony Stolarz
INJURIES
Oilers — RW Jesse Puljujarvi (lower body), LW Jujhar Khaira (lower body).
Maple Leafs — C Nazem Kadri (concussion), D Jake Gardiner (back).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Oilers: 21.9% (10th)
Maple Leafs: 21.7% (12th)
Penalty kill
Oilers: 76% (29th)
Maple Leafs: 80.4% (15th)
Wednesday NHL preview: Edmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs
By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter
Tues., Feb. 26, 2019
SCOTIABANK ARENA
FACEOFF: 7 p.m.
Wednesday NHL preview: Edmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs | The Star
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/leafs/2019/02/26/wednesday-nhl-preview-edmonton-oilers-at-toronto-maple-leafs/mcdavid_leafs.jpg)
Connor McDavid’s Oilers renew acquaintances with Ron Hainsey and the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena. (Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS file photo)
TV: Sportsnet
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
McDavid/Marner
Oilers captain Connor McDavid returns from a two-game suspension for an elbow to the head of the Islanders’ Nick Leddy. McDavid sits third in the NHL scoring race with 85 points, while averaging almost 23 minutes a game … Mitch Marner leads the Leafs with 71 points, while averaging less than 20 minutes a night. A matchup of two very special players.
NEED TO KNOW
It’s been a disappointing season for the Oilers, but they’re on a 2-0-2 roll and forward Leon Draisaitl — with 14 goals in his last 13 games and 38 for the season — has taken his game to “another level,” according to coach Ken Hitchcock … Draisaitl’s linemate Alex Chiasson had an assist in a 3-2 shootout loss in Nashville Monday, his first point in seven games … Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a point shy of his career high of 56.
UP NEXT The Leafs visit the New York Islanders on Thursday, John Tavares’ return to face his old team.
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