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7 hours PPG Paints Arena, television: HNIC RADIO: Sportsnet 590
THE GREAT MATCHUP
C John Tavares vs. C Sidney Crosby
With his points in the lead at the start of the calendar, Tavares and the rest of the Leafs were cleared in the first meeting between the clubs and he scored a goal in his last nine starts. Tavares has 31 points in 44 games against the Pens, while the reverse has Crosby with 58 points in 41 games.
Keys of the game
1. HOME ON THE ROAD
First, the complaint was that the Leafs were playing too fancy on Bay St and they now look too tight. Scotiabank has not changed either, and Toronto is the only unbeaten team on the road with a 5-0-0 record. Nashville is 6-0-0 in the west.
2. APOPLECTIC PENGUINS
Pittsburgh's strong start, which was sparked by the Leafs' 3-0 win, was a shock earlier this week when the Islanders swept a home and temporarily tied the Pens in first place at the Metropolitan. Crosby will not need help to play this game on the big stage in Canada.
3. MARK THIS MALKIN
Crosby may not even be worried Buds, with Evgeni Malkin with 62 points against them in 36 games. In his last six editions, Malkin has 11 points and remains effective until the series of islands. After Thursday's game, he noted how eager he was to meet a different opponent after two sledding matches in the defensive zone against a New York physical team, which is not really the mark of the Leafs.
4. TRAILER WASTE
The Pens have already a 6-0-0 lead after two periods – against a team that has not scored in the first or second frame of his last five home games. That puts a little more pressure on Frederik Andersen in the net to the sheet.
5. SIMON SAYS PASS TO ME
Dominick Simon is in the place of this lucky co-pilot, right winger for Crosby and a five point streak.
SHEETS DAYS OF PLAY
LW C RW
Zach Hyman John Tavares Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau Nazem Kadri Kasperi Kapanen
Andreas Johnsson by Lindholm Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis Frederik Gauthier Josh Leivo
DEFENSE PAIRS
Morgan Rielly Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott Igor Ozhiganov
GOALS
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
Infirmary
C Auston Matthews (shoulder)
PENGUINS DAY GAME LINES
LW C RW
Jake Guentzel Sidney Crosby Dominik Simon
Carl Hagelin Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel
Riley Sheahan Patrick Cullen Patric Hornqvist
Bryan Rust Daniel Derek Grant Daniel Sprong
DEFENSE PAIRS
Brian Dumoulin Kris Letang
Olli Maatta Jamie Oleksiak
Jack Johnson Chad Ruhwedel
GOALS
Matt Murray
Casey DeSmith
Infirmary
D Justin Schultz (leg)
F Derick Brbadard (lower body)
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER GAME
Toronto 30.6% (3rd)
Pittsburgh 29.0% (6th)
PUNALTY KILLING
Toronto 80.0% (13th)
Pittsburgh 87.1% (4th)
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