GAME DAY  

Leafs come home on a high to face last-place Hawks

Blackhawks (8-14-2) at Maple Leafs (14-7-2)
     

WHEN

Monday, 7:30 p.m.   

TV: Prime, RADIO: TSN 590  

ODDS  

Chicago +150, Toronto – 150   

THE BUZZ  

Connor Bedard had one assist in the two games Chicago beat the Leafs last year, but the good news ends about there for the Blackhawks. When it’s Dec. 2 and your team is yet to crack 20 points, it portends another long season … Last year’s No. 1 pick  Bedard has 19 points in 24 games to date and will be the focus of this national broadcast, but his team absorbed a 6-3 drubbing by Columbus yesterday, making it the third time in four games Toronto gets to face a team that played the day before … Bedard had a power-play goal Sunday, one of three by Chicago … Leafs could get back into first place in the Atlantic as they start three consecutive games at Scotiabank Arena … This will be the Leafs first meeting with former first-line left winger Tyler Bertuzzi, who didn’t re-sign here after 21 goals last season and one in the playoffs. So far this year, he’s at 10 points … This will be Auston Matthews’s first home game since Halloween … The Leafs are 12-0 leading after two periods, Chicago 1-11 if behind. 

THE NEWS  

The goalie rotation calls for Anthony Stolarz on Monday, but Joseph Woll has won five straight … Winger Nick Robertson ended a 12-game goal-less streak in Saturday’s win over Tampa Bay … Toronto coach Craig Berube might turn to Jani Hakanpaa after staying with the sane defence for a few games … It will be winger Mitch Marner’s 600th NHL game. 

 THE QUOTE  

 “He looked good. We’re looking to him to be a leader for us, create momentum and drive the bus.” – winger Matthew Knies on the return of Auston Matthews on Saturday. 

THE POLL   

Which two Original Six logos look best in a game? 

Chicago – Toronto 

Boston – Montreal  

Rangers – Detroit  

Toronto – Montreal 

 THE PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP  

Matthew Knies Auston Matthews William Nylander 

 Pontus Holmberg John Tavares Mitch Marner   

Nick Robertson Fraser Minten Steven Lorentz  

Nikita Grebenkin Connor Dewar Alex Nylander  

Defence  

Morgan Rielly Oliver Ekman-Larsson  

Jake McCabe Chris Tanev  

Simon Benoit Conor Timmins  

Goal  

Joseph Woll  

Anthony Stolarz 

Injuries  

Toronto: LW Bobby McMann (lower body), LW Max Domi (lower body), C David Kampf (lower body), LW Max Pacioretty (leg), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), RW Ryan Reaves (suspended).  

Chicago: G Laurent Brossoit (knee), D Seth Jones (foot).    

The prediction:  

Leafs win comfortably, 4-1. 

   

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