GAMEDAY: Leafs look to get back on track against road-weary Canucks
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Vancouver Canucks (18-13-10) at Maple Leafs (27-14-2)
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WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet RADIO: TSN 1050
ODDS
Vancouver -181, Toronto +150
THE BUZZ
Canucks were blanked 2-0 in Carolina on Friday night? and bad weather delayed their flight to Toronto until late morning… Their past 15 games have included scant goals (just 14 shots on goal Friday)? and lots of hard luck, a record of 4-6-6 that reflects a league-high 10 overtime defeats, including two in their first two stops of this Eastern swing … The past couple of years in the two-game series have seen both sides hold serve at home … Toronto’s top line of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies was a combined minus-17 in Raleigh on Thursday, though William Nylander did break his eight-game goal slump … There are usually one or two ex-Leafs on the Canucks, but Toronto is relying heavily these days on one-time Canuck blueliners Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev.
THE NEWS
Vancouver, trying to hang in and around a Western Conference wild-card spot, welcomed back centre Elias Pettersson from injury on Friday and just got Thatcher Demko restored to the crease after a spate of back spasms … But Pettersson’s return will have tongues wagging again about the reported clash of personalities with him and fellow forward J.T. Miller. Management must decide in coming weeks if it’s enough of an issue to require a trade … With Demko playing Friday, the Leafs are expected to face Kevin Lankinen … While Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz has rejoined the Leafs to practise after minor knee surgery, coach Craig Berube does not think a string of 30-shot games has taken a toll on Joseph Woll, but Dennis Hildeby starts.
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THE QUOTE
“There will always be concerns with five forwards, but we’ll see what happens.” — Berube on constantly changing the power play, apparently ready to add a defenceman again.
THE POLL
What should the Leafs do with seldom-used forward Ryan Reaves?
- Scratch him for another fourth -liner.
- Trade for an enforcer with more skill.
- Use him as a net-front presence on second power-play unit.
- Keep him. He’s a good team guy and who cares if he fights.
THE PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP
Matthew Knies / Auston Matthews / Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty / John Tavares / William Nylander
Bobby McMann / Max Domi / Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz / David Kampf / Connor Dewar
Defence
Chris Tanev / Morgan Rielly
Oliver Ekman-Larsson / Philippe Myers
Simon Benoit / Connor Timmins
Goal
Dennis Hildeby
Joseph Woll
INJURIES
Toronto: G Anthony Stolarz (knee), D Jake McCabe (upper body), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin).
Vancouver: D Filip Hronek (shoulder), F Dakota Joshua (leg).
THE PREDICTION
Leafs will look better at home and jump on the jet-lagged Canucks. Call it 5-2 Toronto with an empty-net goal.
X: @sunhornby
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