The Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets renew their rivalry tonight at Nationwide Arena, with the Leafs aiming to extend their lead atop the Atlantic Division.
Both teams come into the game feeling good about their recent form. The Leafs have won six of their last eight games, while the Blue Jackets have clawed their way back into the playoff picture with five wins in their last seven.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to watch for in tonight’s matchup:
Maple Leafs Offense vs. Blue Jackets Defense:
The Leafs boast one of the most potent offenses in the league, led by the red-hot duo of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Matthews is on pace for a career-high 65 goals, while Marner leads the team in assists with 52. The Blue Jackets defense has been surprisingly stingy lately, allowing just 2.3 goals per game over their past seven contests. Can they contain the Leafs’ high-powered attack?
Special Teams:
Both teams have influenced the power play, with the Leafs clicking at 25% and the Blue Jackets at 23.8%. However, the penalty kill is where the difference lies. The Leafs have struggled in the shorthanded department, ranking 29th in the league with a 74.4% success rate. The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, boast the 10th-best penalty kill at 82.1%. Can the Jackets capitalize on any Leafs’ miscues?
Goaltending:
Ilya Samsonov has been rock-solid for the Leafs, posting a .917 save percentage and a 2.41 goals-against average. Elvis Merzlikins has been equally impressive for the Blue Jackets, with a .915 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average. Whoever gets the hot hand tonight could be the difference-maker.
Prediction:
This is a challenging game to call. The Leafs have the more explosive offense, but the Blue Jackets are now playing with great confidence. I will go with the Leafs to win by a narrow margin, 3-2.
Beyond the Numbers:
The two teams are playing each other for the fourth time this season. The Leafs have won two of the previous three, including a 6-5 overtime thriller in Columbus on December 14th.
The Leafs are 14-5-2 against divisional opponents this season, while the Blue Jackets are 8-7-2.
The Leafs are chasing their first Stanley Cup since 1967. The Blue Jackets have never reached the Stanley Cup Finals.
No matter who wins tonight, one thing is for sure: this rivalry is heating up, and there will be plenty of fireworks when these two teams meet again in the playoffs.
I hope you enjoyed this article. I’m sure the game will be an exciting one to watch! Who do you think will win?
In addition to the above, here are some other interesting storylines to watch for in tonight’s game:
The return of John Tavares to Columbus. Tavares played for the Blue Jackets for five seasons before signing with the Leafs as a free agent in 2018.
The battle for the Calder Trophy. Both teams have young players in the mix for the Rookie of the Year award, including Leafs’ defenseman Rasmus Sandin and Blue Jackets’ forward Kent Johnson.
The impact of the trade deadline. Both teams made some key acquisitions at the deadline, and it will be interesting to see how those players perform in their new uniforms.
This gives you even more to look forward to tonight’s game!