[7:00 PM] Canucks @ Maple Leafs

Who will WIN this matchup?

Vancouver Canucks (4-6-1)

@ Toronto Maple Leafs (4-4-3)

 

Starting Goalies:

Ryan Miller (VAN): Confirmed

Frederik Andersen(TOR): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Vancouver Canucks: (+160)

Toronto Maple Leafs: (-180)

 

• The Vancouver Canucks are struggling to ignite a sputtering offense in the midst of a seven-game losing skid (0-6-1) after rallying to victory in the first three contests of their season-opening four-game winning streak. Shut out in back-to-back contests and in four of its last five, Vancouver will vie for its first road win of the season on Saturday when it visits the Toronto Maple Leafs.

• Vancouver recalled Troy Stecher from Utica of the American Hockey League for the second time in a week and a half to address the injuries to fellow defensemen Alex Edler and Chris Tanev. Edler is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury while Tanev (undisclosed) is “something more and will be longer,” according to Vancouver’s official Twitter account. The 22-year-old Strecher stepped in admirably in his initial stint with the Canucks, playing 54 minutes at 5-on-5 with Edler and being named the third star of the game in two of his three NHL appearances.

• Frederik Andersen has rebounded from a disastrous stretch in his first five starts (1-1-3, 4.29 goals-against average, .851 save percentage) to post a 3-1-0 mark with a 1.77 GAA and .954 save percentage in his last four. Andersen has handcuffed Vancouver throughout his career, sporting a 6-1-3 mark with one shutout and a rail-thin 1.16 GAA in 10 encounters.

• Nylander is tied with Pittsburgh’s Phil Kessel and Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux for an NHL-best seven power-play points.

• Vancouver’s offense has mustered an NHL-worst 1.5 goals per game and its 8.6 power-play efficiency is good enough for 29th in the league.

• Matthews has been held off the scoresheet in five straight contests.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs

Confidence: 5/10

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