It’s Jets-Leafs, Laine-Matthews in home opener

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This article was published 20/06/2017 (2501 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What could they possible do for an encore?

Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews will find themselves in the spotlight once against as their teams begin the 2017-18 National Hockey League season against each other.

On Wednesday, the league announced the opening-night marquee matchup between the Winnipeg Jets host the Toronto Maple Leafs Oct. 4 at Bell MTS Place. The full 82-game regular-season schedule will be released Thursday.

Winnipeg and Toronto played one of the most exciting games of the season last October in Winnipeg, and rookie phenoms Laine and Matthews played starring roles.

Laine (the No. 2 overall pick in 2016) ended up leading the way, scoring his third goal of the game in overtime as the Jets erased a 4-0 deficit to win 5-4. Matthews (2016’s first-overall pick) registered his first NHL assist in that game and was denied a chance to be the hero with an overtime breakaway just seconds before Laine celebrated his first career hat trick.

Laine and Matthews faced each other again in Toronto last February in what was another thriller that also ended in a 5-4 OT victory, but the Leafs were doing the celebrating. Matthews had three assists, including one to set up Jake Gardiner’s game-winner; Laine scored twice to hit 30 on the season.

Both players recorded dynamic rookie seasons: Matthews led all rookies in scoring with 40 goals and 29 assists in 80 games, and Laine was just behind him with 36 goals and 28 assists in just 73 games.

Expectations are sky-high for their sophomore seasons, so the next head-to-head battle between the franchise players has the potential to be another gem.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikeoncrime