NHL Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs (21-7-6) at St. Louis Blues (16-16-2)

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Score: Toronto 4 vs. Philadelphia 3
Date: Thursday, December 22, 2022
TOR Goals: Järnkrok, Marner, Bunting, Nylander
PHI Goals: DeAngelo, Frost, Farabee
TOR Goaltender: Samsonov, 16/19, .842 SV%
PHI Goaltender: Hart, 30/34, .882 SV%
TOR Power Play: 1-for-4
TOR Penalty Kill: 4-for-5
Player Notes: – Mitch Marner scored on a Toronto power play opportunity at 19:23 of the second period and added an assist during Toronto’s win. Marner has recorded three points through his last two games (1G, 2A). Marner recorded his 10th multi-point game of the season. Marner is currently on a 14-game point streak on home ice where he has posted 21 points (5G, 16A). Per NHL Stats, “Marner extended his home point streak to 14 games (5-16—21), tied with Doug Gilmour (Jan. 30 – April 3, 1993), Dave Keon (Dec. 11, 1965 – Feb. 12, 1966), Busher Jackson (Dec. 31, 1931 – March 19, 1932) and Babe Dye (Dec. 3, 1924 – Feb. 28, 1925) for the fourth longest in Maple Leafs history.” – William Nylander scored for Toronto at 11:39 of the third period and added two assists throughout the game. Nylander has scored in three-consecutive games. Nylander is currently on a three-game point streak where he has posted six points (3G, 3A). Nylander recorded his ninth multi-point game of the season, and second game of the season with three or more points. – Pierre Engvall skated in his 200th career NHL game and posted an assist.

• Ilya Samsonov stopped 16 of 19 shots he faced in Toronto’s win. Samsonov is 9-0-0 on home ice this season. Per NHL Stats, “Samsonov has won each of his first nine home games of the season with the Maple Leafs and tied Bruce Gamble (9-0-0 from Oct. 25, 1967 – Jan. 20, 1968) for the longest such run in Maple Leafs history.

TONIGHT’S GAME
2022-23 Matchups vs. St. Louis: First of Two
2021-22 Record vs. St. Louis: 1-1-0
Toronto Season Record: 21-7-6
Toronto Road Record: 8-5-3

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The Maple Leafs will face-off against the St. Louis Blues tonight at Enterprise Center in the first of two matchups between the clubs this season. Their second game of the season will be played on January 3rd, 2023 at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto has earned at least one point through their last three road games against St. Louis. The Maple Leafs have posted a 6-2-1 record through the month of December. Tonight marks the first matchup of a three-game road trip for Toronto, with the team continuing on to Arizona (Dec. 29) and Colorado (Dec. 31).

NEXT GAME
Date: Thursday, December 29, 2022
Opponent: at Arizona Coyotes
Time: 9:00 pm ET
Broadcast Information: Sportsnet Ontario (TV), Sportsnet 590 (Radio)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
December 20, 2022 The Maple Leafs have loaned defenceman Mac Hollowell to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
December 19, 2022 The Maple Leafs acquired forward Dryden Hunt from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Denis Malgin

INJURY REPORT
Carl Dahlström Shoulder (IR)
Victor Mete Lower Body (IR)
Jake Muzzin Neck (LTIR)
Morgan Rielly Knee (LTIR)
Nick Robertson Shoulder (IR)
Rasmus Sandin Neck (IR

ALL-TIME VS. ST. LOUIS BLUES:
First Matchup between Clubs: December 10, 1967 (Toronto 1 at St. Louis 2)
All-Time Record: 95-97-25-6 (223 Games)
All-Time Record at Home: 60-34-11-5 (110 Games)
All-Time Record on the Road: 35-63-14-1 (113 Games)
Last Road Win vs. Opponent: January 15, 2022 (Toronto 6 at St. Louis 5)

THE MAN ADVANTAGE IN 2022-23
Power Play: 23.9%
Power Play Goal Leader: 8 – Matthews
Power Play Point Leader: 16 – Tavares (7G, 9A)
2021-22 Power Play: 63/231 (27.3%)

ON THE PK IN 2022-23
Penalty Kill: 79.8%
Shorthanded Goal Leader: 1 – Järnkrok, Giordano, Marner
Shorthanded Point Leader: 2 – Marner (1G, 1A), Kämpf (2A)
2021-22 Penalty Kill: 192/234 (82.1%)

FAST FACTS
Tuesday games 6th of 13 (6 home, 7 road)
Back-to-Backs played 5 of 14
Record in first game of back-to-back 2-3-0
Record in second game of back-to-back 4-0-1
December games 10th of 12 (5 home, 7 road)

ST. LOUIS BLUES NOTES:

CURRENT INJURIES
Scott Perunovich – Shoulder (Re-evaluated in 6 months, announced on Oct. 4)
Marco Scandella – Right Hip (Re-evaluated in 6 months, announced on Sep. 20)
2022-23 Total Man Games Lost: 123

Recent Transactions
December
19 – Activated forward Logan Brown from injured reserve
18 – Recalled forward Logan Brown from the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)
18 – Assigned forward Will Bitten to the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)
17 – Signed defenseman Marc-Andre Gaudet to a three-year, entry-level contract
15 – Assigned forward Logan Brown to the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) on a conditioning assignment

BLUES VS. MAPLE LEAFS

• This will be the 1st of 2 matchups between the Blues and Maple Leafs this season
• The Blues will visit the Maple Leafs on Jan. 3 to finish the season series
• The Blues went 1-1-0 against the Maple Leafs last season, with each team winning on the road
• In their last 10 games against Toronto, the Blues are 8-2-0, including a 7-game win streak from Feb. 2, 2017 to Oct. 7, 2019
• The Blues have lost back-to-back games against Toronto at Enterprise Center, but are 3-2-0 in their last 5 home games against the Maple Leafs
• The Blues have scored at least 3 goals in 5 of their last 6 games against Toronto, outscoring the Maple Leafs 23-19 over those 6 games (4-2-0 record)
• The Blues are 4-1-2 in their last 7 games overall since Dec. 11 vs. Colorado, outscoring their opponent 22-18 during that stretch
• The Blues’ 4 wins since Dec. 11 share 7th in the NHL (1. Carolina, 7), while their 10 points share 5th in the NHL (1. Carolina, 14 points)
• Pavel Buchnevich is expected to dress in his 400th career game

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
12/29 – vs. Chicago
12/31 – vs. Minnesota
1/3 – at Toronto
1/5 – at New Jersey
1/7 – at Montreal

A LOOK AHEAD

• The Blues have 2 games remaining in December, both of which are at Enterprise Center
• The Blues will finish the calendar year off with a three-game home stand before starting 2023 on a 4- game road trip, 3 of which will come against the Eastern Conference
• 4 of the Blues’ next 6 games will come against teams who currently hold a playoff spot
• After their 4-game road trip ends against Minnesota on Jan. 8, the Blues will be at the exact halfway point of the 2022-23 season

BLUES HAVE SUCCESSFUL ROAD TRIP BEFORE HOLIDAY BREAK

• The Blues went 3-1-1, completing a season-long 10-day, 5-game road trip on Dec. 23 in Vegas before the holiday break
• The Blues earned 7 of a possible 10 points on their 5-game trip
• The Blues went 5 for 15 (33.3%) on the power play over their 5-game road trip, which shares the 6th best power play in the NHL since Dec. 15, when their road trip started (1. Vegas, 6 for 13, 46.2%)
• The Blues scored 20 goals on their road trip (including shootout deciding goals), marking just the 5th time in franchise history the Blues have scored 20 or more goals on a road trip of exactly 5 games (first time since the 1995-96 season)

SPECIAL TEAMS STARTING TO HEAT UP

• The Blues have scored a power play goal in 4 straight games, going 5 for 11 (45.5%) on the power play over those 4 games
• Since Dec. 16, the Blues 45.5% power play ranks 1st in the NHL, while their 5 power play goals share 2nd in the NHL (1. Dallas, 6)
• From the beginning of the season through Dec. 15, the Blues had a power play percentage 20.5%, which ranked 23rd in the NHL
• From Dec. 16 to now, the Blues have improved their season power play percentage to 23.4%, which shares 11th in the NHL (1. Edmonton, 32.3%)
• The Blues have also not allowed a power play goal in 5 of their last 7 games (21 for 24, 87.5%), which is the 5th best penalty kill in the NHL in that span (since. Dec. 11) (1. Pittsburgh, 16 for 16, 100%)

DEFENSEMEN CONTRIBUTING OFFENSE FOR BLUES

• The Blues defensemen have combined for 14 goals this season
• The Blues are 8-2-1 this season when a defenseman scores
• The Blues’ defense has contributed 5 power play goals this season, which shares 2nd in the NHL (1. Ottawa, 6)
• They have also contributed 5 game-winning goals, which shares 3rd in the NHL (1. Carolina/Winnipeg, 6)
• Torey Krug and Justin Faulk share the lead among Blues d-men with 5 goals, which also shares 16th in the NHL among all defensemen (1. Karlsson, 13)
• Torey Krug’s 4 power play goals rank 3rd on the Blues (1. Kyrou, 6 / 2. Buchnevich, 5) and share 2nd in the NHL among all defensemen (1. Chabot, 5)
• Justin Faulk’s 2 game-winning goals share the 8th most among all defensemen in the NHL (1. R. Andersson/Morrissey, 4)
• Colton Parayko has 49 career goals and with his next goal, he will become the 7th defenseman in franchise history to score 50 goals with the Blues

BLUES CONSISTENT UNDER ARMSTRONG

• Since Doug Armstrong took over the reigns as the Blues General Manager in 2010-11, the Blues have posted a 537-309-101 record
• Their 537 wins since then rank 5th in the NHL (1. PIT, 561)
• The Blues have made the postseason 10 out of the 12 seasons since Armstrong became GM, 1 of 5 teams in the NHL to clinch 10 or more playoff berths since 2010-11 (PIT, 12/WSH, 11/BOS & NSH, 10)
• Armstrong is also just 1 of 2 GMs to clinch 10 or more playoff berths since 2010-11 (David Poile, 10)
• Since 2010-11, the Blues rank 7th with 2.92 goals per game (1. VGK, 3.20) and rank 3rd in the NHL with 2.59 goals against per game (1. BOS, 2.45)
• The Blues also have the 3rd best penalty kill (82.7%) under Armstrong (1. BOS, 83.4%), and have the 6th best power play (20.8%) in the league (1. WSH, 21.5%)

BLUES STAY STRONG UNDER BERUBE

• Since taking over on Nov. 18, 2018, Berube has led the Blues to a 172-96-38 record (382 points)
• The Blues 382 points since Nov. 21, 2018 (Berube’s first game), rank 9th in the NHL (1. BOS, 418), while their 172 wins rank 10th (1. TBL, 198)
• Their 3.24 goals per game rank 7th in the NHL under Berube (1. TBL, 3.54)
• The Blues have posted a mark of 2.88 goals against per game under Berube, which shares 10th in the NHL (1. BOS, 2.49)
• The Blues also have the 4th best power play in the NHL at 23.9% since Berube became head coach (1. EDM, 27.2%)
• On Dec. 11 vs. Colorado, Berube became the 4th Head Coach in Blues history to reach 300 games behind the bench (1. Quenneville, 593 / 2. Hitchcock, 413 / 3. B. Sutter, 320)
• Last season on Dec. 29 vs. EDM, Berube became the 7th different coach in NHL history to win 200 games and play in at least 1,000 career games

Wins as Coach / Games Played
Craig Berube – 247 / 1,054
Randy Carlyle – 475 / 1,055
Bob Pulford – 363 / 1,079
Craig MacTavish – 301 / 1,093
Red Kelly – 278 / 1,316
Brent Sutter – 215 / 1,111
Larry Robinson – 209 / 1,384

BINNINGTON REACHES CENTURY MARK

• On Dec. 12 vs. Nashville, Binnington stopped all 25 shots he faced for his 100th career win and his 12th
  career shutout
• Binnington became the 6th goaltender in franchise history to record at least 100 wins with the club (Liut/Allen/Joseph/Fuhr/Elliott)
• Binnington recorded his 100th win in his 184th career game, becoming the 3rd fastest in franchise history to reach 100 wins with the team
• With his shutout in his 100th career win, Binnington also moved into a tie for 6th on the Blues all-time franchise list with 12 shutouts, 1 of just 7 goaltenders to record at least 12 shutouts with the Blues
• Since Nov. 10, Binnington has 9 wins, which shares 5th in the NHL (1. Jarry/Shesterkin, 11)
• In his last 5 starts (since Dec. 11), Binnington is 3-0-2, with a 2.12 GAA, a .926 SV%, and 1 shutout
• Binnington has appeared in 25 games this season, which shares the 3rd most games played by a goaltender in the NHL (1. Hart, 27)

Fastest to 100 career wins with the Blues:

1. Brian Elliott – 175 GP
2. Jake Allen – 176 GP
3. Jordan Binnington – 184 GP

BUCHNEVICH STEPPING UP FOR BLUES

• Pavel Buchnevich ranks 2nd on the Blues with 12 goals (1. Kyrou, 16) and shares 4th with 26 points (1. Kyrou, 32)
• Buchnevich has points in back-to-back games (2g, 1a) and has 10 points in his last 8 games (6g, 4a)
• Buchnevich also has 24 points in his last 19 games (11g, 13a), recording at least 1 point in 15 of those 19 games
• Buchnevich ranks 2nd on the Blues this season with 5 power play goals (1. Kyrou, 6)
• Buchnevich recorded 4 points (2g, 2a) on Nov. 19 vs. Anaheim, the 2nd 4-point game of his career (also: Mar. 17, 2021 w/ NYR: 2g, 2a vs. PHI)
• Buchnevich set career-highs with 30 goals, 46 assists, and 76 points last season

BRAYDEN IS SCHENN-SATIONAL

• Brayden Schenn shares 4th on the Blues with 26 points this season (1. Kyrou, 32)
• He also ranks 2nd on the Blues with 19 assists (1. Thomas, 23)
• Schenn has an assist in back-to-back games (2a) and has 6 points in his last 6 games (1g, 5a)
• Schenn shares 2nd on the Blues with 20 even-strength points this season (6g, 14a) (1. Thomas, 21)
• Schenn scored the overtime winner on Dec. 12 vs. Nashville, the 9th overtime goal of his career
• Schenn has 24 power play goals since the start of the 2019-20 season, which ranks 2nd among all Blues in that span (1. Perron, 26)
• Schenn dressed in his 800th career NHL game on Dec. 3 at Pittsburgh
• Schenn recorded his 300th point as a Blue on Friday at Calgary