Gameday preview: Canucks vs Maple Leafs (February 12)

After an embarrassing 6-3 loss against the New York Islanders where they gave up five goals in the first period, the Vancouver Canucks look to get back into the win column as the Toronto Maple Leafs visit Rogers Arena.

This is the first of two meetings between the Canucks and Leafs and they will meet again at Scotiabank Arena on March 5. Last season, they met nine teams in the Scotia North Division and the home team won every game. Toronto has two wins in their last 16 games in Vancouver. Those wins came in 2016 and 2019.

The Leafs have a 30-11-3 record and sit third in the Atlantic Division. Vancouver is the second stop on a three-game Western road trip and they lost 5-2 to the Calgary Flames on Thursday. They take on the Seattle Kraken on Monday.

The Canucks sit with a 21-21-6 record and are seventh in the Pacific Division. They did not hold a game day skate but they did practice on Friday in Burnaby.

Here is how the Canucks lined up. The line of Vasily Podkolzin, Elias Pettersson and Nils Höglander stayed together while there was a new line of J.T. Miller, Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser.

It looks like the Canucks will have Thatcher Demko in goal. For the Leafs, Petr Mrazek will be between the pipes.

“First things first, we have to have a better start,” said Boeser after Friday’s practice. “That’s our first focus.”

Players to watch

Vancouver Canucks- Elias Pettersson: Pettersson has five goals and eight points in his last ten games. He is slowly returning to form.

Toronto Maple Leafs- Auston Matthews:  Matthews’ 31 goals is two behind the league lead. His 54 points is ninth in the NHL.

It is an early start time as the puck drops at 4:00 PM. You can watch the game on CBC or Sportsnet and listen to the it on Sportsnet 650.