Game Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vancouver Canucks | 01/20/2024

Vancouver, BC – The Toronto Maple Leafs left Calgary with a win on Thursday night and left shortly after for Vancouver, where they will be playing the Canucks tonight looking for a second consecutive win.

• TV: Sportsnet
• Radio: TSN 1050
• Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Live Stats

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Last Meeting:

The Leafs and Canucks last faced off against each other November 11th, 2023 where the Leafs ultimately outplayed the Canucks leading to a 5-2 victory for the Leafs. The two goals that the Canucks scored were both on the powerplay. The Canucks will look to come out strong and convert both on special teams and even strength, while the Leafs will look to execute well tonight and improve their penalty-killing efforts.

Team Statistics:

Toronto Maple Leafs

Power Play %: 6^th in NHL – 26%

Shooting %: 10^th in NHL – 10.5%

Faceoff %: T5^th in NHL – 53.6%

Goals per game: 6^th in NHL – 3.49

Goals against per game: 21^st in NHL – 3.26

Vancouver Canucks

Power Play %: T9^th in NHL – 23.1%

Shooting %: 1^st in NHL – 13.4%

Faceoff %: 16^th in NHL – 49.9%

Goals per game: 1^st in NHL – 3.78

Goals against per game: 2^nd in NHL – 2.51

LEAFS QUICK LOOK (22-13-8)

3^rd in the Atlantic, 11^th in the NHL

Last Game:

The Leafs finally broke their winless streak with a hectic 4-3 win against the Flames on Thursday. This win came courtesy of Auston Matthews, who scored 3 goals on the night. The win is a step in the right direction, but with the playoff race in the Atlantic being so tight, the Leafs will need to keep building momentum and start racking up some points again.

Projected Lines:

Leafs to Keep an Eye on:

• Morgan Rielly is often talked about when the Leafs take on the Canucks in Vancouver as he was born in Vancouver. Rielly has been a Leaf for his whole career, and is the longest-tenured Leaf currently. Rielly has been great this year, showing his offensive skills even with Klingberg taking away from his powerplay time to start the year. Rielly has also improved his game defensively and will look to do more of the same tonight, with the Canucks being a dangerous team.
• Bobby McMann joined the Leafs last season after a long journey to the NHL and has found himself in the lineup for over 20 games this season. Now a Ryan Reaves injury was a contributing factor to McMann staying in the lineup, but Keefe is surely trying to find out what he has in all his young wingers including McMann. Look for McMann to bring energy to the game and try to create some secondary offense.
• William Nylander found himself on the longest cold streak he has had this season. Nylander has been on pace for over 100 points this season and was rewarded with an 8-year contract extension with the Leafs. Nylander doesn’t stay cold for long though and picked up a pair of assists against Calgary. Keep an eye on the Swedish winger as he looks to start another point streak.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to follow me on Twitter @ITRnathanbondy.

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