GAME NIGHT
Winnipeg Jets (1-0-0)
at Toronto Maple Leafs (2-1-0)
Monday: 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
TV: Sportsnet Ontario (Leafs region); TSN3 (Manitoba)
Season series: 0-0-0
Last season:
Toronto 1-0-1, 9 GF
Winnipeg 0-1-1, 7 GF
Jan. 2: Toronto 6, @ Winnipeg 3
Jan. 8: Winnipeg 4, @ Toronto 3 (OT)
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
TESTING, TESTING
The Jets were on high alert after having to cancel Saturday’s practice under COVID caution. Defenceman Tucker Poolman was on the NHL’s COVID alert list, forward Nikolaj Ehlers had missed a workout earlier in the week, while Dylan DeMelo had a happier reason to be absent the last couple of days, attending his wife, who was giving birth. DeMelo and Poolman did not travel to Toronto Sunday.
COOL YOUR JETS
This will be only the second game of the season for the Jets, who had a thrilling rally to earn a 4-3 overtime win over Calgary. After last season’s fast playoff exit at the hands of the Flames, Winnipeg overcame a 3-1 deficit on Thursday with some carefully chosen intermission words from head coach Paul Maurice and a three-point game from Patrik Laine.
FOCUS ON FREDDY
Frederik Andersen can quash any talk of a goalie controversy in Toronto with a strong game, assuming he starts as planned. Nine goals against in his first two games set off alarm bells, and Jack Campbell’s win (in front of a far better Leafs defensive effort that limited Ottawa to 19 shots) raised the latter’s standing.
STAY IN YOUR LAINE, EH?
Laine was hurt in the Jets’ practice on Sunday, a possible hip-area injury, and might not play against Toronto, But his performance versus Calgary swept away much of the gloom surrounding camp when he checked in amid much trade request speculation. He not only scored, but got involved physically, helping out teammate Kyle Connor in a scrum, all in just about 16 minutes of ice time. Like Auston Matthews of the Leafs, the only player picked ahead of him in the 2016 draft, Laine thrives in season openers, never without a point in all five.
HOME STICKING
The Leafs can settle in for three games at the SBA this week, regaining last line change. Four of the last eight games between Toronto and Winnipeg at SBA have gone to overtime. Toronto assistant coach Paul MacLean needs no intro to the Jets logo, as he had three 40-goal seasons for them in the 1980s, while Maurice once coached Toronto.
JETS vs. LEAFS (2019-20)
LEADERS G A P +/-
Mark Scheifele 2 1 3 1
Kyle Connor 1 2 3 2
Neal Pionk 0 2 2 -1
Nikolai Ehlers 1 0 1 -1
LEAFS vs. JETS (2019-20)
LEADERS G A P +/-
William Nylander 2 1 3 2
Auston Matthews 2 1 3 0
Kasperi Kapanen 1 2 3 1
Mitchell Marner 1 1 2 0
MAPLE LEAFS
FORWARD LINES
LEFT WING CENTRE RIGHT WING
Joe Thornton Auston Matthews Mitch Marner
Jimmy Vesey John Tavares William Nylander
Ilya Mikheyev Alexander Kerfoot Zach Hyman
Alexander Barabanov Jason Spezza Wayne Simmonds
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Morgan Rielly TJ Brodie
Jake Muzzin Justin Holl
Travis Dermott Zach Bogosian
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen
Jack Campbell
Sick Bay: LW Nick Robertson (knee).
JETS
FORWARD LINES
LEFT WING CENTRE RIGHT WING
Andrew Copp Mark Scheifele Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor Paul Stastny Patrik Laine
Jansen Harkins Adam Lowry Mason Appleton
Mathieu Perreault Nate Thompson Trevor Lewis
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Josh Morrissey Sami Niku
Derek Forbort Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley Nathan Beaulieu
GOALIES
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
Sick Bay: D Tucker Poolman (Covid caution), D Dylan DeMelo (personal), F Bryan Little (Head/ear), F Nikolaj Ehlers (undisclosed), F Patrik Laine (lower body)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Leafs: PP 35.8% (5th) PK 76.9% (15th)
Jets: PP 25.0% (14th) PK 66.7% (25th)
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