The set-up: Toronto's Auston Matthews is the reigning Calder Memorial Trophy recipient and he and the 16-9-1 Maple Leafs will face off against the current Hart Trophy winner in Edmonton's Connor McDavid, whose Oilers are a disappointing 10-13-2. "You don't really get too worked up about the whole matchup, individual matchups, that the media likes to make out," Matthews said before reiterating that "it's just another hockey game." Matthews leads Toronto in both goals (12) and points (24), while McDavid leads Edmonton in goals (10), assists (20) and points (30),

Toronto: Matthews extended his assist streak to three games in Tuesday's 4-1 triumph over Calgary in the opener of a three-game trek through Western Canada for the Maple Leafs. Nazem Kadri (12 goals & 22 points) saw his career-best nine-game point streak come to halt on Nov. 24th but he scored in the third period on Tuesday to give him 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his last 11 contests. Kadri scored three goals in two encounters last season vs. the Oilers to increase his point total to 10 (six goals, four assists) in nine career meetings. Fellow forwards William Nylander (three assists) and Zach Hyman (one goal, two assists) are riding three-game point streaks while Nikita Zaitsev has scored in back-to-back contests.

Edmonton: The Oilers just aren't scoring, as they come in with the NHL's 26th-ranked offense (2.68 goals per game), prompting head coach Todd McLellan to alter lines on a semi-regular basis. "Obviously you'd like to stick with a line for games in a row, but it hasn't worked out that way," said McDavid, whoie could see Jesse Puljujarvi ascend to his top line along with Milan Lucic. Making matters worse for the Oilers is that Cam Talbot's availability is in question, as the workhorse goal is nursing an upper-body injury, prompting Edmonton to bring in a University of Alberta goaltender for Wednesday's practice. Coach Todd McLellan said that Talbot "tweaked something in his upper body" while making 29 saves in a 4-3 overtime win against Arizona on Tuesday. Should Talbot need a breather, backup Laurent Cam Talbot's availability is in question as the 30-year-old workhorse is nursing an upper-body injury, prompting Edmonton to bring in a University of Alberta goaltender for Wednesday's practice. Coach Todd McLellan said that Talbot "tweaked something in his upper body" while making 29 saves in a 4-3 overtime win against Arizona on Tuesday. Should Talbot need a breather, backup Laurent Brossoit will vie for his first win of the season as he owns an 0-3-0 mark with a 3.31 goals-against average and .881 save percentage.

The pick: I'm assuming Brossoit will get the call but either way, I expect a higher-scoring game than most (read oddsmakers). For a generation of hockey fans, McDavid vs. Matthews will be an ever-evolving debate. For tonight, make the Over a 10* play.