5 THINGS TO WATCH LEAFS VS. CANES

Every game day in their walkabout around the Air Canada Centre, the Maple Leafs look at framed black and whites of past stars in vintage hockey gear, stride by a wall replicating the franchise’s 13 Stanley Cup team names.

At last count, 967 players have suited up for the Arenas, St. Patricks and Maple Leafs.

On Tuesday afternoon, wearing a throwback-style Toronto Arenas sweater, today’s team will showcase all they enjoy in the world’s largest hockey market — that started exactly 100 years ago.

“It’s a cool opportunity for us to be part of,” alternate captain Morgan Rielly said.

Head coach Mike Babcock will walk in the figurative footsteps of Dick Carroll, who was behind the bench the first night Toronto’s team played, losing a 10-9 road game to the Montreal Wanderers.

Heading into the landmark tilt, talk centred on how this will surely be a suffocating game, given the Canes’ six consecutive onegoal games of late and the like-minded coaching philosophies of Babcock and his former pupil, Bill Peters.

So how did these two teams combine for 18 goals in two meetings already?

The Leafs are constantly stressing the need to rely less on goaltender Frederik Andersen. He’ll likely be challenged by Teuvo Teravainen, the Canes’ leading scorer and power-play goal producer.

Here are 5 Things to watch in Tuesday’s game:

1 LIKE A HURRICANE

While Toronto has yet to see it’s closest geo-rival, the Buffalo Sabres, this will be the third meeting with the Canes and it’s not even Christmas. Three goals in the third period on Nov. 24 threw a scare into the Leafs in a 5-4 win.

2 CONNER’S CORNER

A big game for defenceman Connor Carrick, who steps into Nikita Zaitsev’s place with Jake Gardiner the next couple of weeks after an injury in Detroit.

3 SCORE MENTALITY

The Leafs offence suddenly dried up in a three-game losing streak after some success without injured leading scorer Auston Matthews. With William Nylander getting another chance at centre to lure checkers away from the other Leaf lines, someone will have to produce.

4 QUIT STAALING

Carolina’s Jordan Staal had a goal in the last game and 14 against the Leafs, his secondbest mark against any team.

5 ANCIENT RIVALS?

While the Senators got the storied Montreal Canadiens for their outdoor century game, the Leafs draw one of the NHL’s least sexy opponents for such a milestone event. However, the Leafs should channel the buzz for the right purpose.