Matthews, Laine set to go head to head

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews and Winnipeg Jets sniper Patrik Laine will be forever linked — or at least until one retires — after being taken first and second overall, respectively, in the 2016 NHL draft.

Each insists team wins come first, and that’s expected, but making comparisons between the two remains a fun exercise.

Matthews has had a better start in 2018-19, but they are close. Matthews has 148 points in 153 career games while winger Laine has 139 points in 164 games. One or the other could decide Wednesday’s game when the Jets host the Leafs in Winnipeg. The two clubs will face off again Saturday in Toronto.

Here are 5 Things to Watch for on Wednesday:

1 Just one goal

The Leafs’ offensive output in their past two games — one goal — is their lowest in back-to-back matches since last December. The emphasis from coach Mike Babcock in practice the past few days was simply to bear down with more urgency, and that’s going to be crucial for the Toronto forward group against a Jets defence corps that is robust and mobile.

2 Crease considerations

As Frederik Andersen comes off a pair of losses, the Leafs’ No. 1 goaltender might be heartened to know the Jets are one of four NHL clubs that have not beaten him in regulation in his career. Andersen is 6-0-1 versus Winnipeg, not that Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck has been a slouch against the Leafs. Hellebuyck is 2-0-1 against Toronto, sporting a .918 save percentage.

3 Leafs edge five-on-five

Both teams boast high-octane power play units that can decide a game. The Leafs have scored nine goals on 24 opportunities, the Jets eight goals on 25 opportunities. So, the edge for Toronto could come at even-strength. The Leafs were leading the NHL prior to Tuesday with 21 goals while playing five-on-five, while the Jets scored 15 in similar circumstances.

4 Third’s the lucky charm

If the Leafs find themselves holding a lead entering the third period (they are 4-0 when they do), the advice might not be to look over their shoulders. The Jets, through nine games, have become a lethal club in the final 20 minutes of regulation, scoring 15 goals, which was the most overall. Keep in mind that represents just a shade more than half of Winnipeg’s 29 goals. For whatever reason, the Jets take a dip in the second period, scoring just five goals.

5 Ehlers on empty

Where Jets leading scorer Mark Scheifele is averaging a point a game to start the season (aided by a four-point night against St. Louis on Monday, tying a personal career high), Nikolaj Ehlers has been cold to the touch. Ehlers scored 29 goals last season yet does not have one in his past 26 games (including the playoffs last spring).