GAME DAY: Blue Jackets are back in Toronto, still in playoff race

Columbus Blue Jackets (22-18-7) at Maple Leafs (30-16-2) 
 

WHEN: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet RADIO: FAN 590  

ODDS

Toronto +110, Columbus –130 
  

THE BUZZ  

There’s a polar vortex everywhere in Eastern Canada, except with the heated Leafs offence. It has burned goalies 16 times in a three-game winning streak, while Toronto has given up nine in that span … Captain Auston Matthews will be seeking a goal in his fifth straight game, William Nylander was in second place in the league with 28 prior to other teams being in action Tuesday … Columbus was on a mid-winter tear, though back-to-back losses, 1-0 to the Rangers and 3-1 to the Islanders, snapped a six-game victory run, its longest in five years … The Jackets’ power play ranks second in the league at 36.4%, though Toronto has stepped that part of its special teams up, too … Columbus could turn to Daniil Tarasov in net after his last game was a 1-0 overtime shutout loss of the Rangers and he beat the Leafs in Ohio in October … Joseph Woll seeks his fourth victory for Toronto in his career high 26th start. 

 THE NEWS 

The two Leafs who missed Moday’s win over Tampa Bay, John Tavares and Max Pacioretty, remain out, Tavares nearing the end of a stint on IR. … Fourth-line Connor Dewar won’t play either after getting hurt Monday, so Ryan Reaves, the fighter without a fight this year, is back in  … The busy Woll was kept of the ice Tuesday to prepare for this start … Columbus’s recent surge put it back in wildcard contention, but has muddied the trade market as to whether they’ll be buyers or sellers at the deadline on March 7. 

THE QUOTE 

“We’re coming into these games after being on a six-game win streak, a seven-game points streak and teams are playing us extra hard. They know we’ve been rolling lately and they’re tightening up.” – Jackets’ centre Adam Fantilli after the loss to the Islanders. 

THE POLL  

What’s your biggest concern with Joseph Woll in the second half? 

1. Fatigue or injury
2. 2. Inexperience in a playoff stretch run
3. 3. Anthony Stolarz comes back and overshadows him.
4. He’ll be fine as a No. 1 or 1A

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THE PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP
 

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner  

Bobby McMann-Pontus Holmberg-William Nylander

Max Domi-Fraser Minten-Nick Robertson

Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves 

Defence
  

Morgan Rielly-Jake McCabe 

Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Chris Tane

Simon Benoit-Connor Timmins 

Goal

Joseph Woll

Dennis Hildeby   

Injuries

Toronto:

G Anthony Stolarz (knee), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), C John Tavares (lower body), F Connor Dewar (undisclosed), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin).   

Columbus : 

D Erik Gudbranson (shoulder), RW Yegor Chinakhov (upper body), C Boone Jenner (shoulder), C Sean Monahan (wrist). 

 THE PREDICTION  

Leafs catch the Jackets a little road weary and register a 4-2 win. 

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X: @sunhornby