GOAL-STARVED JACKETS VS. LEAFS
Despite two games with 30-plus shots, the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to starve on offence.
They managed just one against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their home opener two weeks ago and have lost two straight overtime games.
Pierre-Luc Dubois leads them with three goals, but they’ll need to generate a lot more chances against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
Meanwhile, the Leafs’ Auston Matthews has been held to two points his last four games after a strong start in the goal department.
Here are five things to watch for when the Blue Jackets line up against the Leafs tonight:
1 What’s My Line?
Even if the injured Andreas Johnsson gets back from a leg injury as Leafs coach Mike Babcock indicated, there could be more of the mixing and matching from Saturday’s overtime win against the Boston Bruins. Maybe Matthews and Mitch Marner play together again, maybe not.
2 Plug It In
The lack of power plays is grating on Toronto players. Since getting a couple of extrastrength goals in the Oct. 4 game at Nationwide Arena against the Jackets, the Leafs have had just 16 chances the past seven games, one in the past two. But if the power play is reinstated tonight, the Leafs will likely have William Nylander in the injured John Tavares’ spot on the first unit.
3 Hop Two It
With the full effect of losing Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene to free agency kicking in for Columbus, they can’t always be pulling out of town happy with just a single point. “These are points that are so important,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said, reminding his team: “We’ve got in as the second wild card the last two years.”
4 Thinking Big
The Blue Jackets can still throw their weight around, ranked 11th in NHL hits to the Leafs at 22nd. “Even-strength wise, it’s making sure we’re above them all night, get in the zone and play well done low,” said Marner. “They’re big guys, they want to get the puck to our net and get a second opportunity.”
5 Ice Men
Morgan Rielly of the Leafs and Seth Jones of Columbus will be busy defencemen, leading their respective clubs in time on ice at close to 25 minutes each, Rielly has 11 points to boot.