Maple Leafs Pregame #32: 5 Things to Watch for against the Canucks
By Jon Steitzer
4 years agoThe Leafs are heading out to Western Canada this week. That means two things:
- Leafs fans complaining about the start time of games
- Other fans complaining about the number of Leafs fans at their games
The important thing is that all hockey fans get to complain and that’s what we love to do the most.
Lineups
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 PONTUS ABERG Rating: 71.6#88 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 79.6#9 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 74.7#28 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 75.30#15 FL1 |
 ZACH HYMAN Rating: 72.9#62 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 79.0#13 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 77.6#19 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.46#3 FL2 |
 ILYA MIKHEYEV Rating: 73.7#47 LW |  ALEXANDER KERFOOT Rating: 71.4#141 C |  KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 73.2#48 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 72.80#8 FL3 |
 PIERRE ENGVALL Rating: 73.7#44 LW |  JASON SPEZZA Rating: 71.2#144 C |  NIC PETAN Rating: 71.1#94 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 72.02#4 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 75.9#11 LD |  TYSON BARRIE Rating: 75.8#16 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 75.88#11 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 74.9#26 LD |  JUSTIN HOLL Rating: 73.1#54 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.97#11 DL2 |
 TRAVIS DERMOTT Rating: 73.3#56 LD |  CODY CECI Rating: 71.7#88 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.48#16 DL3 |
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 TANNER PEARSON Rating: 74.3#37 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 75.4#37 C |  JOSH LEIVO Rating: 72.2#75 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 73.95#24 FL1 |
 J.T. MILLER Rating: 74.6#34 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 77.7#17 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 75.7#19 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.01#6 FL2 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 72.1#78 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 71.6#135 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 72.1#73 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.94#16 FL3 |
 BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 72.0#121 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 68.1#192 C |  MICHEAL FERLAND Rating: 72.2#76 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.75#20 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 QUINN HUGHES Rating: 75.2#21 LD |  TYLER MYERS Rating: 73.0#59 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.07#20 DL1 |
 OSCAR FANTENBERG Rating: 72.4#81 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 71.9#80 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.15#26 DL2 |
 JALEN CHATFIELD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 72.0#79 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.99#21 DL3 |
Somehow the Canucks are the better team so far this year. Perhaps it’s the Pacific Division advantage of all the teams being equally awful.
Here are five things to watch for.
1. Will we notice Aberg this game?
Despite him having a spot on the top line of the Leafs, he was pretty invisible in the dismantling of the Blues on Saturday night. And while he really shouldn’t be a top line player, it will be interesting to see how he will fit into the Leafs roster going forward and if he can make a case for holding down this job until Johnsson returns.
My guess is that Aberg will find a more sustainable role for himself in the near future and will be evaluated on that.
2. Josh Leivo vs. the Leafs
It’s mandatory to point out the former Leaf that is likely to light up Toronto, but Leivo is an interesting case, as he was cast aside by Babcock for so many years and has really found a home with the Canucks. He’s also a good reminder on why the Leafs are wrong to commit so much money to wingers, when they could have been relying on affordable depth contributors. A good game for Josh Leivo is further evidence to why Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen are expendable.
3. Special Teams
Safe to say that special teams more than 5v5 has been the Leafs undoing. Things went really well against St. Louis and it will be interesting to see if the Leafs can build on that, and despite Andreas Johnsson being a part of both the PP and the PK, his absence didn’t hurt the team. A good game from Andersen definitely helped the PK, but perhaps he wants to bail the team out again.
4. Are the floodgates open for Auston?
Didn’t that 5 game goalless streak feel like it lasted forever?
I can honestly say I don’t want to head down the road of where we start dissecting Matthews game again, so I think it’s easier if he just keeps on scoring.
5. 4th Line Watch
Assuming Gauthier and Timashov are still out, and with Trevor Moore possibly returning at some point in this road trip, it will be interesting to see if Nic Petan can make a case for permanent Leafs residence, or if he’ll continue to underwhelm on the score sheet.
Pierre Engvall has been an interesting addition and looks likes the best option to stay with the Leafs, but if he cools at any point he’s the easy decision for demotion due to his waivers status.
While 4th line drama might not be your bag, the fact that the Leafs are facing off against first line winger Josh Leivo should illustrate why it’s at least a little important.
The game is scheduled to start at 10 PM ET, so plan your afternoon naps accordingly. It can be seen on Sportsnet.
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