Arizona pals prepare for Round 2 in Toronto
All eyes should be on Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews when the Calgary Flames invade the Air Canada Centre to battle the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
Toronto won last week’s meeting 4-1 in which the two Arizona natives and good off-ice friends played well, yet did not break through with goals.
If Matthews starts this game in the take-charge manner he finished Saturday in Vancouver, doing everything but tying the game, Tkachuk and Calgary’s checkers will have their hands full.
The Leafs fell to the Canucks on Saturday, dropping their record to 17-10-1, good for second in the Atlantic Division.
Calgary has dropped a pair of games, including a 5-2 decision to Philadelphia on Monday. The Flames are 14-12-1 and sit fifth in the Pacific Division.
Here are five things to watch for when the clubs face off:
1 Flickering Flames
Coach Glen Gulutzan is concerned about too much nervous energy being channelled in the wrong direction as his team has lost three of its last four. Falling at home to the reeling Flyers was the latest setback. A large contingent of Toronto and Ontario players hasn’t translated to wins at the ACC lately, as Calgary is 0-5 and last won on Bay Street in a 2011 shootout. Then again, starting on time has been a Leafs problem, too.
2 So long Jagr?
This might be the last Toronto appearance for Jaromir Jagr, the league’s 45-year-old NHL star. He wasn’t a factor in Calgary last Tuesday, but is one point away from 80 in his career against the Leafs. 3 Centres of attention Though Tyler Bozak hopes to be back after missing the Vancouver game, he’ll be monitored for the lingering affects of food poisoning. William Nylander could wind up in the middle for a chunk of the game.
4 Face painting
Toronto’s improvement on the draw was checked by Calgary in the last meeting. Sean Monahan won 14 of 24 faceoffs and made it a long night. Nazem Kadri likely gets that assignment with Toronto enjoying last change.
5 Riding shotgun
Better five-on-five defensive positioning has helped keep shots to the outside and lightened Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen’s workload. The Leafs must stick to that script at home, where they’ve lost the past two.