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

The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Toronto’s last 12 games against an opponent in the West conference. – Thanks to our friends at OddsShark.com

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.