Mark Giordano and Max Domi combined for 36 minutes in penalties in a fight-filled victory for the Maple Leafs in an earlier meeting.
Mark Giordano and Max Domi combined for 36 minutes in penalties in a fight-filled victory for the Maple Leafs in an earlier meeting.
VANCOUVER — It only happens once a year, but the Vancouver Canucks are eager to host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Rogers Arena on Saturday.
"It’s one of the biggest games we look forward to in the regular season. There’s a million reasons to be excited to play," Canucks forward J.T. Miller told TSN Friday. "The last couple of years they’ve been in here the games have been electric."
The Maple Leafs defeated the Canucks 5-2 in the previous meeting between the clubs on Nov. 11 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Tempers flared as Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano and forward Max Domi each received instigators penalties after engaging in a fight moments after seeing of their teammates fall on the receiving end of a hit from the Canucks.
Giordano stepped up after Canucks forward Dakota Joshua hit David Kampf.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5OTjYCSeCw[/embed]
Domi did the same when Ian Cole hit Nick Robertson in the open ice.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL1veQNvMms[/embed]
The Leafs are coming off an emotional 4-3 victory against the Calgary Flames on Thursday. They snapped their four-game winless streak and are looking to build off that performance against a vastly improved Canucks team that has quickly become one of the best team's in the NHL after such little expectations from the outside following a 38-37-7 season.
They are the first team to pick up 30 victories this season, accomplishing the feat in 45 games, it's the team's fastest route to 30 wins in franchise history. They are sending five players and head coach Rick Tocchet to the NHL All-Star Game in Toronto in February. Oh, and they just extended president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford to a new three-year deal. It's mostly good vibes in Vancouver, which is why this will prove to be another tough challenge to see if they have truly gotten over the hump on their issues.
The Maple Leafs will make one subtle change that made midway through their game on Thursday. Tyler Bertuzzi will return to the second-line spot alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. Matthew Knies will move to the third line to skate with Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok.
Although not confirmed, Martin Jones is likely to start in goal for the Maple Leafs. The North Vancouver, B.C. native is 9-5-1 this season with a .920 save percentage.
The puck will drop at 4 p.m. ET, and a harder confirmation on lineup news for the Canucks is expected roughly two and a half hours before the puck drops.
Where to watch
Viewers across Canada will be able to stream or watch the game on CBC and Sportsnet. In the United States, the game will stream on ESPN+. Across the globe, the game will stream on the respective carrier of NHL.TV.
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