Saturday, December 3rd vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Canucks fans will get the chance to see Auston Matthews play a month earlier when the team visits Toronto, but a second one comes along in short order. With outstanding players such as Matthews, William Nylander and Morgan Reilly, to only name a few, watching the Leafs will soon become not only bearable but mesmerizing.
The Canucks are accustomed to being much, much better than the woeful Leafs. But things could change in the coming years, as the Leafs are being rebuilt in grand fashion and they have an impressive host of young talent coming up through the system. Plus, now they have a legitimate No. 1 goalie who will provide them with consistency and goal-tending excellence.
Canucks clubs of a few years ago would’ve consistently relished prime-time match-ups against the lowly Leafs but, as indicated by last season’s performances, everything is about to change for the foreseeable future. Like when the Toronto Blue Jays descend upon Safeco Field in Seattle every year, Leafs fans flock to Roger’s Arena every time the team travels there. A strong Leafs presence in the stands often means really entertaining chant battles and a strange clash of blue on blue, wherein one isn’t really sure which team is the dominant force.
Last Season’s Record vs. Leafs: 0-2-0, 4 GF, 9 GA
Next: December 10th