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Wednesday game preview: Minnesota Wild at Toronto Maple Leafs
Chris Stewart leads the Wild with six goals.
https://www.thestar.com/sports/leaf...ew-minnesota-wild-at-toronto-maple-leafs.html
Minnesota's Nino Niederreiter drew the ire of coach Bruce Boudreau for his defensive play against Boston. (Aaron Lavinsky / Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)
By Mark ZwolinskiSports reporter
Tues., Nov. 7, 2017
AIR CANADA CENTRE
PUCK DROP: 7:30 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet
RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
KEY PLAYERS
Stewart/Andersen
Toronto native Chris Stewart, who played locally for the North York Rangers, leads the Wild with six goals and will be looking for a strong performance in his hometown. Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen backstops a team that gives up a lot of shots; he leads the NHL in shots faced (455) and saves (407). The Wild have struggled lately at getting the puck to the net. The matchup should be good for one team.
NEED TO KNOW
The Wild are in last place in the Central Division with a 5-6-2 record. They are coming off a 5-3 loss to Boston, which pushed coach Bruce Boudreau to call out his team. “You saw it, we weren’t very competitive,” Boudreau said. “The first two periods (after which Boston led 4-1), that was probably the most embarrassing two periods I’ve been involved with in a lot of teams.” Boudreau singled out forward Nino Niederreiter for lackadaisical defensive play that led to a Boston goal. Niederreiter, who also scored in the game, is returning from a sprained ankle injury that has limited him to seven games . . . Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk was lifted from the Boston game in the third period after allowing four goals on 24 shots . . . Minnesota is still without injured forwards Zach Parise and Charlie Coyle.
UP NEXT
Friday, vs. Boston, 7 p.m.
Game Day: Wild at Maple Leafs
Terry Koshan
http://torontosun.com/2016/12/06/ga...eafs/wcm/d5cb0873-ca53-4348-94d7-a667998c02ce
MINNESOTA WILD at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Air Canada Centre
TV: SNO, Radio: 590 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
Frederik Andersen vs. Devan Dubnyk
For good reason, Andersen has been feeling good about himself lately, but he’s going to have to be close to perfect to be better than Dubnyk, who leads the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average. Dubnyk is 4-1-1 against Toronto in his career; Andersen carries a 2-1-0 record against Minnesota into the game.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
Bozak and pals
Leafs fans have been treated to some excitement at home, led by the line of Tyler Bozak between James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner. The trio has been nearly unstoppable at the Air Canada Centre, combining for 41 points in 11 games. The other Leafs forwards have combined for 45 points at the ACC.
Be physical
The Leafs will be facing a Wild team that has been credited with just 372 hits this season — easily the fewest in the NHL. The Leafs are 10th in that category, led by Matt Martin, who has 99 hits, the most among NHL forwards. A robust game by the Leafs could be advantageous vs. a club that is ending a five-game trip.
Win it or lose it
The Wild has been solid in the faceoff circle, winning 51.9% of the draws it has taken, good for fifth overall prior to games on Tuesday. The Leafs have not been nearly as sharp, winning 49% of their faceoffs, putting them in 21st. Minnesota’s Mikko Koivu is among the best in the NHL at the dot. The Leafs like to possess the puck, but they might have to fight harder in the circle to get it.
Don’t trail late
Devan Dubnyk credited his teammates for his stellar statistics, but coach Bruce Boudreau had this to say about his goalie: “He has been spectacular, especially late in games. We play so many close games, he has had to make one great save after another to either get us to overtime or to seal the game. He has been as good as any goalie in the league.”
Home cooking
The Leafs have been great at home, going 8-3-0, and play six of their next seven at the ACC. A win would give Toronto six points in five games, meeting coach Mike Babcock’s segment criteria. “We have to re-establish (home-ice dominance),” Babcock said. “It’s a big game against a good Wild team.”
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