Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs: Preview, Lineups
By Jeff Godley
Tonight, the Vancouver Canucks continue their road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and hope to snap a seven-game slide.
The Vancouver Canucks play their third game of a six-game road trip Saturday night.
Perhaps appearing in the early game on Hockey Night in Canada can change their fortunes. If not that, then perhaps the Canucks can take advantage of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have the fourth-worst defense in the NHL.
So far this season, Vancouver has made defenses look good. Goaltenders too; whether that be a Vezina-trophy-winner Carey Price or the recently-waived Mike Condon.
On paper, the Maple Leafs look like a beatable team for the Canucks. But let’s not forget, the last time these two teams met Toronto embarassed the Canucks at Rogers Arena. On their retro jersey night, no less:
Toronto won both games versus Vancouver last season. There is more than one streak the Canucks would like to end tonight.
116. Final. 0. 104. 0
Toronto Maple Leafs
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 4-4-3
Home Record: 3-1-0
2015-16 Record vs. Canucks: 2-0-0
Goals For: 31
Goals Against: 38
Power Play: 24.1% (7th)
Penalty Kill: 82.3% (13th)
Leading Scorers: William Nylander ( 11 GP –– 4G –– 7A –– 11 PTS), Auston Matthews ( 11 GP — 6 G — 4– A — 10– PTS), Nazem Kadri (11 GP — 5– G — 3– A –– 8 PTS).
Injuries: Matt Hunwick (lower body, day-to-day)
WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:
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Nazem Kadri: Much was made of Auston Matthews facing Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. However, it was Kadri who stole the show in that game. He scored two goals, including the overtime winner.
Mitchell Marner: After the game against the Oilers, the Leafs faced the Buffalo Sabres. This time it was Marner who came through with a two-goal performance.
WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:
Jake Gardiner: Gardiner quarterbacks Toronto’s potent first powerplay unit. He has scored one goal and six points this season.
WHO’’S IN NET:
Frederik Andersen: October was not kind to Andersen, but he seems to recovered from his early struggles. While his numbers (3.19 goals-against, .903 save-percentage) still haven’t caught up, the netminder has been excellent in his last few starts. He made 45 saves against the Oilers, and another 42 against the Sabres.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Zach Hyman —– Auston Matthews — — William Nylander
James van Riemsdyk —– Tyler Bozak — — Mitchell Marner
Connor Brown —– Nazem Kadri — — Leo Komarov
Matt Martin —– Ben Smith — — Nikita Soshnikov
Morgan Rielly –— Nikita Zaitsev
Martin Marincin –— Connor Carrick
Jake Gardiner –— Roman Polak
Frederik Andersen
Jhonas Enroth
Vancouver Canucks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 4-6-1
Away Record: 0-3-1
2015-16 Record vs. Maple Leafs: 0-2-0
Goals For: 17
Goals Against: 28
Power Play: 8.6% (30th)
Penalty Kill: 85.7% (8th)
Leading Scorers: Henrik Sedin (11 GP — 3– G — 2– A — 5– PTS), Brandon Sutter (11 GP — 1– G — 4– A — 5– PTS), Bo Horvat (11 GP — 4– G — 0– A — 4– PTS).
Injuries: Alexander Edler (upper body, day-to-day), Christopher Tanev (foot, indefinite), Jayson Megna (week-to-week), Anton Rodin (day-to-day)
Related Story: Edler, Tanev Injured; Stecher Recalled
WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:
Loui Eriksson: Eleven games into his first season with the Canucks, and the big-ticket free agent still searches for his first goal. After being moved onto a line with Brandon Sutter he has played better, it seems only a matter of time before he breaks through
Sven Baertschi: Baertschi is developing a reputation for starting slow. It is well-deserved this season, as he also has yet to score. He too seems due, as he was robbed of glorious chances against the Canadiens and the Senators.
WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:
Nikita Tryamkin: He did everything the coaches asked him to, and injuries have earned him a spot back in the top-six. Tryamkin made an impact in his first game, finishing with six hits and seven minutes in penalties.
WHO’’S IN NET:
Ryan Miller: Miller stopped 19-of-21 in Montreal, but seemed most upset about the empty-net goal late in the game. Alexander Radulov fanned on a close chance at the open net, but the Edler took a slashing penalty on the play and the goal was awarded. While Henrik spoke with one referee, Miller gave the other an earful until play resumed.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Daniel Sedin —– Henrik Sedin— — Jannik Hansen
Markus Granlund —– Brandon Sutter — — Loui Eriksson
Sven Baertschi —– Bo Horvat — — Jake Virtanen
Alexandre Burrow —– Brendan Gaunce— — Jack Skille
Ben Hutton –— Erik Gudbranson
Luca Sbisa –— Philip Larsen
Nikita Tryamkin –— Troy Stecher
Ryan Miller
Jacob Markstrom