Canucks Gameday Preview #55: All Eyes On Pettersson As The Maple Leafs Roll Into Town

The Vancouver Canucks (25-18-11) end their pre-4 Nations Face-Off schedule on Saturday when they battle the Toronto Maple Leafs (33-19-2). This will be the second meeting between these two Canadian rivals, with the Canucks taking the first matchup 3-0 in January. Not only would a win send the fans home happy, but it would extend Vancouver’s dominance over Toronto at Rogers Arena, as the Canucks are 13-2-0 in their last 15 games at home against the Maple Leafs.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Report: Tom Willander Projected To Sign With The Canucks This Season

Canucks Trade Mark Friedman For Future Considerations

“We All Know What Talent He Has And What He’s Capable Of”: Canucks GM Details What Elias Pettersson Needs To Do To Reach His Potential

For Vancouver to skate away with a victory, they need a full 60-minute effort from the entire team. Toronto enters this game on a three-game winning streak and is currently fighting the Florida Panthers for top spot in the Atlantic Division. If the Canucks can shut down the Maple Leafs power play and limit their rush opportunities, they should be able to put together a strong effort on Saturday.

Players to Watch:

Elias Pettersson:

The noise surrounding Elias Pettersson has gotten louder ever since the J.T. Miller trade. In the four games since the trade, Pettersson has one assist and is struggling to get pucks on net with only five shots on goal.  If Pettersson wants to quiet some of the noise, he needs to start playing like an elite center and show the fanbase he can be a valuable player on a nightly basis.

Mitch Marner:

Few players are having a better season than Mitch Marner. The pending unrestricted free agent has 71 points in 53 games, while his 55 assists rank second. Whether on the power play or at even strength, Marner is a threat in the offensive zone and will need to be watched closely throughout the game.

Vancouver Canucks (25-18-11):

Quinn Hughes: 14-45-59
Brock Boeser: 17-17-34
Conor Garland: 14-20-34
Jake DeBrusk: 19-14-33
Elias Pettersson: 11-22-33

Toronto Maple Leafs (33-19-2):

Mitch Marner: 16-55-71
William Nylander: 33-22-55
John Tavares (47 GP): 21-24-45
Austin Matthews (39 GP): 20-24-44
Matthew Knies: 21-15-36

Game Information:

Start Time: 4:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650

Make sure you bookmark THN’s Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.