Toronto set to celebrate century of hockey pride

Every game day in their walk about the Air Canada Centre, the Maple Leafs look at framed black-and-white pictures of past stars in vintage hockey gear, stride by a wall commemorating the franchise’s 13 Stanley Cup titles and stand under a long line of retired number banners for the national anthem.

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

On Tuesday afternoon, wearing throwback-style Arenas sweaters, the Leafs 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.

Here are five things to watch in Tuesday’s game:

1 Like a Hurricane

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

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 to Zaitsev in Detroit. The Nov. 24 game was Carrick’s last before head coach Mike Babcock went to Roman Polak on the third pairing.

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 Leafs 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 in total, his second-best 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.