Canucks at Maple Leafs preview

CANUCKS (34-23-6) at MAPLE LEAFS (34-23-8)
7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN360, SNO, SNW, SNP, NHL.TV

The Maple Leafs are coming off road wins against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers after going 2-4-0 in their previous six games. They lead the Panthers by four points for third in the Atlantic Division.
Goalie Thatcher Demko will start for the Canucks, who are 4-2-1 in their past seven games after a four-game winless streak (0-3-1). Vancouver trails the Vegas Golden Knights by six points for first in the Pacific Division.

Players to watch

Canucks forward Tyler Toffoli has 10 points (eight goals, two assists) during a six-game point streak. He has four goals in four games since being acquired by the Canucks from the Los Angeles Kings
Maple Leafs forward William Nylander has six points (three goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak and scored the winning goal in each of Toronto's past two games. He has 18 goals in his past 28 games.

They said it

"It's great. It's been a lot of fun here. Just the fact that I'm back in the mix of a playoff race and playing meaningful hockey is great. It's one of those things you don't want to take for granted." -- Canucks forward Tyler Toffoli
"No I don't take offense to it. It's an opportunity to prove people wrong, right? If everyone is saying these guys are great and if you don't everyone is going to be mad. It's better to prove people wrong I think, it's pretty fun." -- Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott on whether he takes offense to criticism that the team's defense is not good enough

Canucks projected lineup

Tanner Pearson -- Bo Horvat -- Loui Eriksson
J.T. Miller -- Elias Pettersson -- Tyler Toffoli
Antoine Roussel -- Adam Gaudette -- Jake Virtanen
Tyler Motte -- Jay Beagle -- Brandon Sutter
Alexander Edler -- Troy Stecher
Quinn Hughes -- Chris Tanev
Oscar Fantenberg -- Tyler Myers
Thatcher Demko
Louis Domingue
Scratched:Jordie Benn, Zack MacEwen
Injured:Micheal Ferland (concussion), Josh Leivo (knee), Tyler Graovac (lower body), Brock Boeser (rib), Jacob Markstrom (lower body)

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Zach Hyman -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner
William Nylander -- John Tavares -- Alex Kerfoot
Kyle Clifford -- Jason Spezza -- Kasperi Kapanen
Pierre Engvall -- Frederik Gauthier -- Denis Malgin
Martin Marincin -- Tyson Barrie
Travis Dermott -- Justin Holl
Rasmus Sandin -- Calle Rosen
Frederik Andersen
Jack Campbell
Scratched:Timothy Liljegren
Injured:Ilya Mikheyev (wrist laceration), Morgan Rielly (fractured foot), Cody Ceci (ankle), Andreas Johnsson (meniscus), Jake Muzzin (broken hand)

Status report

The Canucks will dress the same lineup that played in their 5-2 loss at the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. … Ceci, a defenseman who has been out since Feb. 5, participated in the morning skate. He said there is no timeline for his return but that he will travel with the Maple Leafs on their three-game trip to California and intends to practice with the team.

Stat pack

Hughes has seven points, all assists, during a five-game point streak. He has 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in his past 19 games. Edler has one goal and five assists during a four-game point streak. Miller has three goals and five assists during a four-game point streak... Tavares has three goals and three assists during a four-game point streak. Spezza is one assist from 600 in the NHL.