How many goals will 1 and 1 add up to on Wednesday?
In a rare meeting of first overall picks in a season opener, Maple Leaf Auston Matthews will face Juraj Slafkovsky of the home side Montreal Canadiens.
To beat Matthews’ jaw-dropping modern day NHL record for a newcomer six years ago versus Ottawa, Slafkovsky would have to score five.
Matthews, the defending Rocket Richard Trophy winner, wishes the young Slovak well this season, but not on Wednesday and certainly not to the extent of burying five pucks.
“He looked pretty good (last week) in Montreal,” said Matthews of Slafkovsky finally notching his first point of preseason amid concern he’d be sent to the AHL. “He’s so big and powerful (6-foot-3, 238 pounds) out there.”
There will be added motivation for Slafkovsky with family flying over from Europe for the game, which could not be arranged until Monday when it was determined the national team junior would be kept up to start the year.
Montreal general manager Kent Hughes has cautioned fans and media not to get hopes too high on Slafkovsky this season, noting they chose him as the best long-range project, though ahead of Canadian junior Shane Wright.
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