Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Welcome to the ACC ARZ

Welcome to Toronto, you Arizona Coyotes. I hope you enjoy your time here, up to 7PM, then I hope it's terrible for you.

Stats Coyotes:
The Coyotes are 4-3-1 with 23GF (12th) and 19GA (13th). Their power play is 8.8% (29th) and penalty kill is 83.9% (14th). They are average.
Top goal scorer: Anthony Duclair (5) / Top assists: Martin Hanzal (9) / Most Points: Martin Hanzal / Max Domi (9)

Stats Maple Leafs:
The Maple Leafs are 1-4-2 with 16GF (24th) and 22GA (22nd). Their power play is 9.5% (26th) and penalty kill is 75% (25th). They are bad.
Top goal scorer: Leo Komarov (4) / Top assists: Dion Phaneuf (5) / Most Points: Phaneuf / Komarov (5)

Last meeting:
They have not met this season.

Media rabbles:

Max Domi tells me one of his fondest early ACC memories is playing mini sticks by the Leafs wives lounge with Wade Belak.#TMLtalk

— Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) October 26, 2015

Nick Spaling out tonight with injury. Leafs centers vs. Arizona: Kadri, Holland, Arcobello, Froese.

— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) October 26, 2015

Babcock on decision to start Reimer: It's his turn.

— David Alter (@dalter) October 26, 2015

Jake Gardiner and Tyler Bozak taking part in Leafs optional morning skate... eyeing return Friday at NYR

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 26, 2015

After having his consecutive games streak end at 482, Antoine Vermette was off the ice early at the #coyotes skate.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 26, 2015

Projected Lines

Maple Leafs
James vanReimsdyk - Nazem Kadri - Leo Komarov
Shawn Mathias - Peter Holland - Brad Boyes
Daniel Winnik - Mark Arcobello - Joffrey Lupul
Michael Grabner -Byron Froese -PA Parenteau

Matt Hunwick - Dion Phaneuf
Scott Harrington - Morgan Rielly
Martin Marincin - Roman Polak

James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier

Coyotes
Max Domi - Martin Hanzal - Anthony Duclair
Tobias Rieder - Kyle Chipchurra - Mikkel Boedker
Jordan Martinook - Brad Richardson - Shane Doan
John Scott - Boyd Gordon - Steve Downie

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Michael Stone
Klas Dahlbeck - Zbynek Michalek
Nicklas Grossmann - Connor Murphy

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST Mike Smith
Anders Lindback

Three Questions with the enemy:

Today's guest is Cat Silverman (@CataCarryOn), writer at Today's Slap Shot and The Leafs Nation (boooo!)

1) I know it's early, but Arizona is third in the Pacific Division with a 3-3-1 record. Weren't they supposed to really suck? Why aren't they?

I'm pretty sure I told you they'd be better than everyone thought! HAH. TOLDYA SO.

in all seriousness though, the Coyotes had a lot hinging on "what ifs" this year. Was Max Domi going to need an adjustment period at the NHL level? Would Anthony Duclair fit in with him well, or would he need some additional help? Was Tobias Rieder an anomaly last year, or could we expect to see his shooting percentage go up along with his numbers? What about Mikkel Boedker? Martin Hanzal? OEL and Michael Stone?

Well... All the what ifs are falling into place. It's a pleasant surprise, but it shouldn't be as surprising as we're making it out to be.

2) What Coyotes player should Leaf fans watch out for?

On offense, that second line- Rieder, Hanzal, and Duclair - have been lethal. They'll be a threat, especially when Domi falls in with any of them at any point. The sleeper, though, is Jordan Martinook. You don't know him now, but you may soon.

3) What will be the key to the Coyotes winning the game? What will be the reason they lose?

Key to winning will be proper execution. That 3-0-0 start was proof the team has the talent, it'll just be up to them to play to that talent level; every game this year is theirs to lose.

Most popular Maple Leafs/Coyotes YouTube clip:

There you have it. If you want a chance to go to the game you can head to Maple Leafs Square between 4:30PM and 7:30PM with a donation for the We Scare Hunger campaign and you could be given some tickets to the game.