Winnipeg Jets (24-10-1) at Maple Leafs (21-11-2)
WHEN:Monday, 2 p.m.
TV: TSN4
RADIO: FAN 590
ODDS:Winnipeg +110, Toronto – 149
THE BUZZ
The Jets will have Oct. 28 in the back of their minds, when Toronto knocked them off 6-4 on home ice and ended an eight-game win streak to start the season. “We obviously didn’t play our game,” forward Mark Scheifele told Winnipeg media Sunday. “They played well. They’ve been playing really good hockey. We just have to be at our best, stick to our game. We obviously weren’t happy when they beat us in our building. We just have to stick to our structure, stick to our game plan, and worry about ourselves” … This is also Toronto’s first encounter since then with a Canadian team other than the Habs or Senators. as interest renews as to which Great White North franchise might end the Stanley Cup curse … The Leafs didn’t get off to a good start Saturday without the injured Auston Matthews. The first few minutes Monday, in an unfamiliar earlier start time, will be crucial to re-establish some home-ice mojo.
THE NEWS
The Maple Leafs didn’t practice Sunday, but the Jets did and then travelled … The Leafs could swap out backup goaltenders again, Matt Murray for Dennis Hildeby, although if Joseph Woll starts, they can keep Hildeby and make a longer term move with Murray after the NHL’s holiday roster freeze is lifted later in the week … Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube will decide whether to reinstate Pontus Holmberg as a bottom-six forward or keep Winnipeg native Ryan Reaves for this game … John Tavares will be looking for his 200th goal as a Leaf to become the fifth in NHL history to get at least that many with two different franchises (Toronto and the Islanders).
THE QUOTE
“They came in and stomped us in the first period, then we rebounded in the second and third, but it was a little too late. Other than that, we haven’t played that bad against them.” – Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi, on the last meeting.
THE POLL
Which team could end Canada’s 32-year Stanley Cup drought?
- Winnipeg
- Toronto
- Edmonton
- One of the Canucks, Flames, Senators or Habs
THE PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP
Forwards
Matthew Knies/David Kampf/Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty/John Tavares/William Nylander
Bobby McMann/Max Domi/Nick Robertson
Pontus Holmberg or Ryan Reaves/Connor Dewar/Steven Lorentz
Defence
Morgan Rielly/Conor Timmins
Oliver Ekman-Larsson/Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit/Jake McCabe
Goal
Joseph Woll
Dennis Hildeby or Matt Murray
Injuries
Toronto: G Anthony Stolarz (knee), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), C Auston Matthews (upper body), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin).
Winnipeg: D Dylan Samberg (foot), Logan Stanley (lower body).
The Prediction
Jets even up the season’s series in a tight game, 3-2 Winnipeg.
[email protected]
X: @sunhornby