Game #21 Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs
Here’s what you need to know.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs
Monday, November 19, 2018 - 7:00 EST
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
TV: Fox Sports Ohio - Radio: 97.1 WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Pension Plan Puppets
Columbus Blue Jackets, 12-6-2, 26 points, 1st Metro, 3rd East
@
Toronto Maple Leafs, 14-6-0, 28 points, 2nd Atlantic, 2nd East
The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the Air Canada Centre to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs riding a hot streak, going 5-0-2 in their last seven games. The Blue Jackets lead the Metropolitan Division and are finding ways to get results, both by scoring goals to pick up goaltenders as well as the return of in-form Sergei Bobrovsky (4-0-0, four goals allowed in his last four games).
They will match up against the high-flying Maple Leafs, second in the Eastern Conference and riding their own hot streak as they recently swept their California road trip. The Maple Leafs have struggled at home (just 5-5-0 at the Air Canada Centre) while they have gone an astounding 9-1-0 on the road.
Player to Watch
John Tavares
The prized free agent signing of last summer has impressed in his return to Toronto, registering 12-11-23 in his first 20 games in a Maple Leafs uniform. Tavares has carried the first line center load for the Leafs, averaging 19:12 TOI per night and scoring three game winning goals already this season. Tavares has six points in his last five games including a 1-2-3 effort against the Los Angeles Kings.
Shutting down Tavares will be a key tonight if the Blue Jackets want to have a chance against the Leafs.
Jackets Notes
Nick Foligno joined the team in Toronto after missing the Carolina Hurricanes game for a personal matter. He is expected to play tonight ... Sergei Bobrovsky has posted four straight games with a SV% of greater than .960 ... Since his return from a broken foot, Cam Atkinson has registered 30-23-53 in 52 regular season games played.
The Other Bench
Auston Matthews will miss the game tonight with an injury, and William Nylander is still holding out ... Nylander has until December 1 to report to the Maple Leafs before he is ineligible to play this season ... The Maple Leafs are a bottom half CF% team, yet top five in goals against, limiting teams chances against their net.
Season Series
11/19/2018 CBJ @ TOR
11/23/2018 TOR @ CBJ
12/28/2018 TOR @ CBJ
Stats
| Toronto | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.50 (4) | GPG | 3.45 (5) |
| 2.55 (5) | GAPG | 3.10 (17) |
| 25.9% (6) | PP% | 16.4% (23) |
| 81.2% (7) | PK% | 77.6% (21) |
| 49.54% (18) | EV Corsi % | 49.10% (21) |
| 1.031 (2) | EV PDO | 1.016 (6) |
| John Tavares, 12 | G Leader | Cam Atkinson, 12 |
| Mitch Marner, 20 | A Leader | Artemi Panarin, 16 |
| Mitch Marner, 26 | P Leader | Artemi Panarin, 21 |
| Nazem Kadri, 14 | PIM Leader | Pierre-Luc Dubois, 30 |
| 5-5-0 | Home / Road | 7-2-1 |
| 7-3-0 | Last 10 | 6-2-2 |
Projected Lineups
| Artemi Panarin | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Cam Atkinson |
| Nick Foligno | Boone Jenner | Josh Anderson |
| Brandon Dubinsky | Alexander Wennberg | Anthony Duclair |
| Markus Hannikainen | Riley Nash | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| Ryan Murray | Seth Jones |
| Markus Nutivaara | David Savard |
| Zach Werenski | Scott Harrington |
| Sergei Bobrovsky |
| Joonas Korpisalo |
| Zach Hyman | John Tavares | Mitch Marner |
| Patrick Marleau | Nazem Kadri | Kasperi Kapanen |
| Andreas Johnsson | Par Lindholm | Connor Brown |
| Tyler Ennius | Frederik Gauthier | John Leivo |
| Morgan Reilly | Ron Hainsey |
| Jake Gardiner | Nikita Zaitsev |
| Travis Dermott | Igor Ozhiganov |
| Frederik Andersen |
| Garrett Sparks |