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LGD: After Vacation, Back to Work vs. Blue Jackets
Photo credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
By Ryan Hobart
Dec 28, 2018, 16:28 EST
The Leafs traveled to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets in the return from the Christmas break. Most of the rest of the NHL was back yesterday, but the schedulers were kind enough to give the Leafs an extra break.
The Jackets and Leafs each sit in 2nd in their division, sitting behind the Capitals and Lightning respectively. Columbus is in slightly better form than Toronto, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, while the Leafs are 6-2-2.
For the season, the Maple Leafs are 25-10-2 and the Blue Jackets are 22-12-3. Within this season, the Leafs and Jackets have played each other twice, each winning 4-2 in their home rink.
Leafs Lines
After the break, Igor Ozhiganov should be ready to return from his illness, however, Zach Hyman remains out with his injury. Trevor Moore is back up on emergency re-call to fill his place.
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 74.8#31 LW |  JOHN TAVARES Rating: 82.2#10 C |  MITCH MARNER Rating: 80.5#8 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 79.15#13 FL1 |
 PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 73.9#40 LW |  AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 86.3#5 C |  KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 73.6#54 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.90#2 FL2 |
 CONNOR BROWN Rating: 71.1#84 LW |  NAZEM KADRI Rating: 78.2#30 C |  WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 75.2#37 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 74.82#2 FL3 |
 PAR LINDHOLM Rating: 71.1#88 LW |  FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 68.9#181 C |  TREVOR MOORE Rating: 73.4#56 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.13#7 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 81.4#3 LD |  RON HAINSEY Rating: 72.9#40 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 77.13#8 DL1 |
 JAKE GARDINER Rating: 77.9#7 LD |  NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.5#64 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.71#9 DL2 |
 TRAVIS DERMOTT Rating: 73.9#37 LD |  IGOR OZHIGANOV Rating: 72.0#52 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.97#3 DL3 |
| GOALIES | |
|---|---|
 FREDERIK ANDERSEN Rating: 77.1#10 G1 |  GARRET SPARKS Rating: 70.5#41 G2 |
Blue Jackets Lines
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ARTEMI PANARIN Rating: 81.9#4 LW |  PIERRE-LUC DUBOIS Rating: 77.4#33 C |  CAM ATKINSON Rating: 82.4#3 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 80.58#6 FL1 |
 NICK FOLIGNO Rating: 73.4#42 LW |  ALEXANDER WENNBERG Rating: 71.5#127 C |  ANTHONY DUCLAIR Rating: 71.0#86 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 71.98#26 FL2 |
 OLIVER BJORKSTRAND Rating: 71.9#71 LW |  BOONE JENNER Rating: 72.2#102 C |  JOSH ANDERSON Rating: 73.8#51 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 72.63#12 FL3 |
 MARKUS HANNIKAINEN Rating: 69.2#119 LW |  BRANDON DUBINSKY Rating: 69.1#180 C |  RILEY NASH Rating: 70.1#163 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.43#27 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ZACH WERENSKI Rating: 75.5#21 LD |  SETH JONES Rating: 80.3#7 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 77.92#5 DL1 |
 RYAN MURRAY Rating: 73.1#48 LD |  MARKUS NUTIVAARA Rating: 72.6#43 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.85#18 DL2 |
 SCOTT HARRINGTON Rating: 69.1#125 LD |  DAVID SAVARD Rating: 71.9#53 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.49#25 DL3 |
| GOALIES | |
|---|---|
 SERGEI BOBROVSKY Rating: 81.3#2 G1 |  JOONAS KORPISALO Rating: 66.2#63 G2 |
Pre-Game Preview
The Blue Jackets’ first powerplay unit has been pretty good, but doesn’t come close to rivaling the efficiency of the Leafs’ first unit. The big advantage that Columbus has is their goaltender and top D pairing, which is among the best in the league.
Other than the combination of Jones, Werenski, and Bobrovsky backstopping them, the Maple Leafs seem to have the advantage at every corner of the roster. With this mostly healthy group, they are certainly a force to be reckoned with.
This doesn’t always translate to a win, though, and the Blue Jackets themselves are no slouches, so this should still be a well-fought contest.
My three keys to the game:
- Draw penalties
- The Leafs’ best weapon is that first powerplay unit, so get it going
- Take lots of shots
- Bobrovsky is the best cop on the force, so the more chances you can get the better
- Wear out the bottom pair
- Use the forward depth to take advantage of the Jackets’ bottom pair
Hope that you enjoy tonight’s game, and as always, go Leafs go!
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