Squaring off with nearly identical records entering Wednesday’s contest, the Toronto Maple Leafs were presented with a key opportunity to get out of a rut against a quality Minnesota Wild team, with a four-game road trip on the horizon before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

A weekly gauge of the players who are controlling substantial buzz around the league. When a player is included on this list it may not be a good thing -- it means that they are capturing a large amount of the hockey world's attention.

Jared Spurgeon and Marat Khusnutdinov scored in the first period, Filip Gustavsson stopped 31 shots, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1.

Morgan Rielly is used to contributing with the puck on his stick. The Maple Leafs defenceman had a career-high 68 points a couple of years back and chipped in another 58 last season as part of a well-oiled attack.

I feel good despite numbers,” said Rielly, who has five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 51 contests. “It’s a battle right now. Just trying to compete and play the best I can.”

“It can be the most random time in the summer and no matter what, you’ll see 'RR' pop up on your phone,” Nick Robertson said. Every group chat needs an instigator; someone to keep the dialogue alive during low points. On and off the ice, Reaves fills that role.

It seems inevitable that the Canucks will end up with a franchise-changing trade in the coming weeks. Can the Leafs take advantage of it?

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares was spotted wearing a blue jersey at the optional morning skate on Wednesday. On Tuesday, he was seen on the ice ahead of the Leafs’ practice with Matthew Knies,

The Minnesota Wild last played away on January 26 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Wild won by a score of 4-2 in regulation, and their current league record is 29-17-4 for a 0.620 Points %. Tied with the Leafs in Points %, the Wild are third in the central with a goal differential even more slight than the Leafs at +3.

THROUGH GAMES OF WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 2025

Travel more. Spend less. Enjoy up to 50% off hotel accommodations. When: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena

Crag Berube was forced to shuffle the Leafs' lines at practice ahead of Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Wild with the imminent return of Max Pacioretty.