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?
- Fatigue or injury
- 2. Inexperience in a playoff stretch run
- 3. Anthony Stolarz comes back and overshadows him.
- 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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