GAMEDAY: Blue Jackets back in Toronto, still in playoff race

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Columbus Blue Jackets (22-18-7) at Maple Leafs (30-16-2)

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WHEN: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet RADIO: FAN 590  

ODDS

Toronto +110, Columbus –130 

THE BUZZ

There’s a polar vortex everywhere in Eastern Canada, except with the heated Leafs offence. It has burned goalies 16 times during a three-game winning streak, while Toronto has given up nine in that span … Captain Auston Matthews will be seeking a goal in his fifth straight game, William Nylander was in second place in the league with 28 prior to other teams being in action Tuesday … Columbus was on a mid-winter tear, though back-to-back losses — 1-0 to the Rangers and 3-1 to the Islanders — snapped a six-game victory run, its longest in five years … The Jackets’ power play ranks second in the league at 36.4%, though Toronto has stepped that part of its special teams up, too … Columbus could turn to Daniil Tarasov in net after his previous game was a 1-0 overtime loss of the Rangers and he beat the Leafs in Ohio in October … Joseph Woll seeks his fourth victory for Toronto in his career-high 26th start. 

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THE NEWS 

Dennis Hildeby gets the start, coach Craig Berube determining Joseph Woll has had some “emotional” games during his recent three wins … Winger Max Pacioretty was moved to IR Wednesday morning after taking a puck in the side of the face on Saturday in Montreal. Jacob Quillan was called up from the Toronto Marlies to take his roster spot …  Centre John Tavares is also on IR, while winger Connor Dewar (upper body) will not play Wednesday, so Ryan Reaves, the fighter without a fight this year, is back in  … Columbus’ recent surge has put it back in wild-card contention, but has muddied the trade market as to whether they’ll be buyers or sellers at the deadline on March 7. 

THE QUOTE 

“We’re coming into these games after being on a six-game win streak, a seven-game points streak and teams are playing us extra hard. They know we’ve been rolling lately and they’re tightening up.” — Jackets’ centre Adam Fantilli after the loss to the Islanders. 

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THE PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP

Matthew Knies / Auston Matthews / Mitch Marner  

Bobby McMann / Pontus Holmberg / William Nylander

Max Domi / Fraser Minten / Nick Robertson

Steven Lorentz / David Kampf / Ryan Reaves 

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Defence

Morgan Rielly / Jake McCabe 

Oliver Ekman-Larsson / Chris Tanev

Simon Benoit / Connor Timmins 

Goal

Dennis Hildeby

Joseph Woll   

Injuries

Toronto: G Anthony Stolarz (knee), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), LW Max Pacioretty (headm  C John Tavares (lower body), F Connor Dewar (undisclosed), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin).

Columbus : D Erik Gudbranson (shoulder), RW Yegor Chinakhov (upper body), C Boone Jenner (shoulder), C Sean Monahan (wrist). 

THE PREDICTION  

Leafs catch the Jackets a little road weary and register a 4-2 win. 

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby 

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