Maple Leafs vs. Mammoth: Before the Puck Drops

Some nights, a Maple Leafs win leaves you feeling pretty good; other nights, you win but still have something to worry about. Saturday's 6-3 victory over Colorado was a little of both. The offence showed up in a big way, but Chris Tanev's early departure reminded everyone that this team can’t afford to lose too many pieces on the blue line.

Toronto visits the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday night, and I'll be watching three things.

First, How Do the Maple Leafs Manage Without Chris Tanev?

Tanev is out for at least three games after being placed on injured reserve, and that's a significant loss. He's a heart-and-soul player who takes pride in the game's less glamorous parts. Auston Matthews knows it, and so does anyone who has watched Tanev defend a lead.

Jake McCabe could be asked to take on more responsibility, while Marshall Rifai has been called up from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. This is an opportunity for others to step forward, but replacing Tanev's defensive reliability won't be easy. I'll be watching how Toronto handles the tough minutes, particularly when Utah pressures the net.

Second, Can the Offence Keep Rolling?

There's some good news here. Matthews scored twice against Colorado, his first two-goal game in 31 games, while William Nylander had five points. That kind of production makes this team dangerous.

The question is whether Toronto can carry that momentum into another game. Utah has shown it can be vulnerable, but the Maple Leafs can't assume the goals will keep coming. John Tavares is also expected back after missing Saturday's game for the birth of his child, which should give the forward group another boost.

Third, Can Toronto's Penalty Kill Handle Utah's Power Play?

This might be the most interesting matchup of the night. Utah's power play has converted 40 percent of its opportunities, going 10-for-25. Nick Schmaltz has scored four of his six goals with the man advantage.

Toronto's penalty kill, meanwhile, has been operating at a 95 percent success rate. Something has to give. If the Maple Leafs stay disciplined and keep Utah's power play quiet, they'll have a much better chance of leaving Salt Lake City with two points.

What I'm Watching Most from the Maple Leafs’ Perspective.

Toronto has the offence to make some noise, but with Tanev out, I want to see whether the defensive structure holds up. A good team needs to score goals. A team that wants to win consistently also needs to know how to keep them out.