Vancouver @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 10, 2019 ) Toronto 4, Vancouver 1

Tyler Toffoli has paid significant dividends since being acquired last week by the Vancouver Canucks, with the forward scoring in his third consecutive contest to extend his point streak to six games (eight goals, two assists). The 27-year-old looks to continue his good fortune against his hometown team on Saturday when the Canucks visit the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toffoli's goal in the third period was overshadowed by Bobby Ryan tallying twice to complete a hat trick in Ottawa's 5-2 victory versus Vancouver. "It (stinks). It's unfortunate. We had a really, really good opportunity, and not what we wanted to do," said Toffoli, who saw the Canucks fail to gain ground on Pacific Division-leading Vegas after falling to 1-1-0 on their road trip. While Vancouver was unable to overcome an early two-goal deficit on Thursday, Toronto had no such issue as it skated to a 5-3 victory over Florida to move four points ahead of the fourth-place Panthers in the Atlantic Division. "I think we just tried to stay resilient," Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews said. "Obviously, you get down early in the first, I think you just try to keep your composure and go out there and take it one shift at a time and just claw our way back."

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NHL Network, CBC, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Pacific

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (34-23-6): Quinn Hughes is rewriting the franchise record book while inserting himself in the Calder Trophy conversation to boot. Hughes extended his point streak to five games (seven assists) with his 43rd assist to pass fellow defenseman Dale Tallon (1970-71) for most in a season by a Vancouver rookie. The 20-year-old Hughes has posted 51 points to match Jocelyn Guevremont (1971-72) for the second highest total by a Canucks rookie blue-liner.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (34-23-8): Matthews, who scored in the Maple Leafs' 4-1 win against the Canucks on Dec. 10, collected a goal and an assist on Thursday to give him eight of each in February. Zach Hyman set up Matthews' tally versus Florida and reached the 20-goal plateau for the second straight season after scoring in the first period. William Nylander has recorded back-to-back game-winning goals during his five-game point streak (three goals, three assists).

OVERTIME

1. Toronto C Mitch Marner, who had two assists in the first encounter versus Vancouver, has recorded 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 14 games this month.

2. Canucks F J.T. Miller has three goals and five assists on his four-game point streak.

3. Maple Leafs RW Kasperi Kapanen has collected four points (two goals, two assists) over his last four games played.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 4, Canucks 3