> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Maple Leafs vs. Canucks game preview - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-vancouver-canucks-game-preview-news-lines-updates/ - Published: 2021-02-04T16:30:00.000Z - Updated: 2021-02-04T16:30:00.000Z - Description: The Canucks and the Leafs meet for the first time this season. - Author: Species - Tags: Game Coverage, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:43 #### Vancouver Canucks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 7:00 p.m. E.T. Thursday on TSN4 and Sportsnet Pacific *(regional game - blackouts in effect)* SB Nation Opponent’s site: [Nucks Misconduct](https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Leafs are back in action tonight after a short four day break in games. They face the Canucks, who are the last team in the division the Leafs have yet to play this season and the Leafs will spend a whole six days with them for three consecutive games. --- #### Related [Why We Hate The Vancouver Canucks](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/why-we-hate-the-vancouver-canucks-toronto-pettersson-hughes-benning/) --- The Canucks’ 6-7-0 record for the season-to-date is worse than where most had pegged the team to be. Indeed, many had them as certain to be in the top three of the division, yet, here they are with 25% of the season complete sitting instead in the bottom three, and that record even includes a generous allowance for beating up on the comically bad Ottawa Senators over three games in mid-January where they outscored them 16 to 3. After beating up on the Senators, the Canucks were then completely destroyed by the Canadiens earlier this week, with ex-Canuck Tyler Toffoli leading the charge and beating them in two games straight. So if you look at the Canucks record minus the Senators it’s a poor three wins and seven losses. This is not what was expected. Projected Leafs Lines *(no changes from previous game; source: Sheldon Keefe via Lance Hornby)* Zach Hyman — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner William Nylander — John Tavares — Wayne Simmonds Jimmy Vesey — Alex Kerfoot — Ilya Mikheyev Nic Petan — Travis Boyd — Jason Spezza Morgan Rielly — T.J. Brodie Jake Muzzin — Justin Holl Travis Dermott — Zach Bogosian Frederik Andersen is the presumed starter Michael Hutchinson > Rasmus Sandin leaving [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) practice early after Pierre Engvall got him in the face with a shot from close range. Ouch. > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [February 3, 2021](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1357009029575421956?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Projected Canucks Lines *(previous game, source Nucks Misconduct)* J.T. Miller — Elias Pettersson — Brock Boeser Tanner Pearson — Bo Horvat — Nils Hoglander Adam Gaudette — Brandon Sutter — Zack MacEwen Jake Virtanen — Jay Beagle — Tyler Motte Quinn Hughes — Jordie Benn Nate Schmidt — Tyler Myers Alexander Edler — Jalen Chatfield Thatcher Demko (*expected starter Thursday)* Braden Holtby *Injured: Antoine Roussel (undisclosed), Travis Hamonic (upper body), Jayce Hawryluk (undisclosed), Micheal Ferland (head)* ### The Game Yes, that’s Braden Holtby sitting there for the Canucks in case you forgot they snagged him form the Washington Capitals in the off-season. There’s certainly some Leafs who will remember him from that 2017 “not Bruins” playoffs series where the Leafs were eliminated in OT of game 6 where Holtby made 37 saves on 38 shots-on-goal. Time for some revenge! A winning record in this three game series for the Leafs will put the Canucks in a really bad position in the division. We are of course going to watch Elias Pettersson feeding the puck to Brock Boeser very closely tonight. The duo is mostly responsible for the bright red blob of death in front of the opposing team’s net and in their slot on this 5v5 shot-attempts chart from HockeyViz. Boeser sits with 8 goals in 13 games, putting him tied for second in the league for scoring (behind only the previously mentioned Tyler Toffoli who got most of his goals against the Canucks). Pettersson has set up a lot Boeser’s goals, but he’s an elite shooter too, which is especially dangerous on their power play. You certainly shouldn’t just stand and watch him take the shot like Ben Chiarot on the Habs does here. Then there’s Quinn Hughes on defence, whom they are keenly aware of as well. > Auston Matthews on Quinn Hughes: "He's a special player. He's extremely deceptive, a great skater. Might not be the biggest guy but he's not easy to hit so you've got to be aware of when he's out there. He makes a lot happen on both ends of the ice." > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [February 4, 2021](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1357349298938073097?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) You know what would be a great idea? Have the Leafs not take dumb penalties that give the Canucks power play opportunities, though, will the officials go along with that plan? We shall see tonight. Let’s just hope Sheldon Keefe doesn’t get a bench minor for falling into the stands. > Who's going to be first to fall off the back into the seats? [https://t.co/rV6kVvpERu](https://t.co/rV6kVvpERu?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Pension Plan Puppets (@PPPLeafs) [February 4, 2021](https://twitter.com/PPPLeafs/status/1357345730831081472?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) ### Which North Division team will be the Leafs greatest nemesis after tonight’s game? | The Canucks | 26 | | -------------------- | --- | | The Leafs themselves | 251 |