The Maple Leafs (optional) and Edmonton Oilers skated at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

The Leafs will rely on the defensive pair of Chris Tanev And Jake McCabe Saturday night as they look to slow down Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

“Something I enjoy and look forward to, taking out opposing teams’ best players,” McCabe said. “It’s no different tonight. We happen to be at 97, so just another day’s work with a little more challenge, obviously, than some of the other players.”

That may be an understatement. McDavid arrives in his hometown after recording nine points during the Oilers’ three-game winning streak.

“You obviously have to be aware that he generates speed through the neutral zone and base your gap a little bit on that,” McCabe said. “It takes a collective effort of five men to slow him down and (must) stay out of the box.”

“Try to outrun him,” Tanev said of the game plan. “Manage the puck. You don’t want to give them weird rushes, especially on three-quarters of the ice. On their blue line, they’re a really good transition team, and that’s where they can catch you. “

Tanev and McCabe have played together on the penalty kill all season. They have been an effective even-strength shutdown pair since they were brought together in the middle of a match on October 24.

“They have good chemistry together and defend well with their physicality, their sticks and their blocking shots,” congratulated coach Craig Berube. “And they release the puck under pressure. You know, that’s one thing I’ve really noticed about them is they’re good at absorbing hits, using each other on breakouts and making little plays to get the puck out of our zone. The teams are coming hard on the forecheck, but they are doing a good job of stopping the puck and finding a way to get it out.

With Tanev and McCabe on the ice in 5-on-5 play, the Leafs have outscored the opposition 4-2 over the last 10 games.

Tanev, who ranks second in the NHL in blocked shots, was Toronto’s big addition this off-season. He faced a steady diet of McDavid in last year’s Western Conference Finals while with the team Dallas Stars.

‘Just a warrior,’ said Oilers winger Zach Hyman. “No matter what night, he blocks shots… He’s always in the right position, he always has a good stick, he gets the puck out wonderfully. He’s just a very, very good player.”

Tanev trains alongside Hyman, McDavid and other Oilers during the summer as part of the group overseen by Gary Roberts.

“Their back end has been great,” McDavid said. “Obviously Tanny helps a lot. He’s so strong.”

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McDavid reached the 1,000-point milestone Thursday night in an overtime victory against the Nashville Predators.

“It was a very emotional game, obviously for Connor, but also for the team,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “You could see the support from his teammates and how happy they were for him to reach this milestone.”

Since then, it’s been business as usual for the Oilers captain.

“It was just about trying to get to Toronto,” McDavid said with a shrug. “That was it. The turnaround was quick. We were on the plane early to try to avoid all the Taylor Swift traffic.”

Mission accomplished on that side.

“We managed to do it,” McDavid said with a small smile. “It’s cool to see the city so excited.”

Swift’s third of six Toronto concerts is Saturday night and, yes, McDavid is a fan.

“She has great songs, yes,” said the 27-year-old from Newmarket, Ontario. confirmed.

McDavid didn’t reveal much during a four-and-a-half minute session with reporters.

“Connor always wants to be the best and is always ready to play 100 percent,” Knoblauch explained. “Our start hasn’t been the way we wanted and there’s been a lot of urgency, or a lot of guys wanting to turn things around and play the right way and start to have a little bit of a winning streak.”

Edmonton started the season with only two wins in seven games (2-4-1). They’re 7-3-0 since then, but they enter Saturday’s slate of games just inside the playoff cut line.

The Stanley Cup finalists from a year ago are far from satisfied.

“It looks better,” McDavid said. “Carrying a little bit more play, you know, so it’s all been good. There’s a lot of room to grow.”

“They play a very fast game,” underlined Bérubé. “They’re very good off the run, obviously, with McDavid and (Leon) Draisaitl. And their defensemen are very active on the ice. So we have to do a good job, starting in the offensive zone, to not get beat the ice and try to stay tight on these guys and take away their speed and obviously their power play is starting to kick in and they’re dangerous, so penalty kill discipline is going to be important.

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After missing Friday’s practice, Max Domi returned to the ice for Toronto’s optional skate. Bérubé confirmed that Domi will face the Oilers despite an undisclosed injury.

With Auston Matthews Sidelined with an undisclosed upper-body issue, the Leafs tapped Domi to replace him as a top-six center. It’s been difficult at times as Domi is mired in a 12-game point drought, which is the longest pointless stretch of his career.

“That’s how it is right now,” Bérubé said.

Domi clocked a season-high 20 minutes, 58 seconds in Wednesday’s overtime victory at Washington.

Bérubé tries to move some minutes from Domi to David Kampfwho moved up to the center of the third line on Wednesday.

“We’re taking a little bit off his plate that way,” Bérubé said. “So it’s just about managing his (minutes), his appearance and what’s happening with his ice time, and things like that. Giving him as many maintenance days as possible, keep it up here. That was a lot for him.

Domi also missed Monday’s practice. He was not available to the media after Saturday’s practice.

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Jani Hakanpää played 15 minutes and 36 seconds in his Leafs debut Wednesday night.

“It was unreal,” the 6-foot-7 defenseman said. “It was such a great feeling. It took a lot of time and a lot of hard work, a lot of hours dedicated to this to be there. So, it was special.”

This was Hakanpää’s first NHL game since he was sidelined with a knee injury in March while playing for the Stars.

“I actually felt better than I probably thought,” the 32-year-old Finn said. “So it’s still good.”

Hakanpää, a right-hander, placed next Morgane Rielly.

“It was really nice, really nice,” he said. “It was easy. He made my life easy there.”

The return of Hakanpää has allowed the Leafs to create a balanced look on the back end. Olivier Ekman-Larssona left-hander, had been paired with Rielly. He is now queuing next Conor Timmins.

“I like the right-left combination in all three pairs,” Bérubé said. “You kind of have a puck shooter in every pair.”

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Nick Robertson will return to the lineup on Saturday, Bérubé confirmed. Alex Steeves is a strange man in front.

Anthony Stolarz starts for the Leafs while Stuart Skinner gets the call for the Oilers.

Viktor Arvidsson isn’t ready to return to the lineup, so the Oilers will once again dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen Saturday night.

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Projected Leafs lineup for Saturday’s game:

McMann – Tavares – Marner
Knies – Domi – Nylander
Robertson-Kampf-Holmberg
Dewar-Lorentz-Revaes

McCabe – Tanev
Rielly – Hakanpää
Ekman-Larsson – Timmins

Stolarz starts
Woll

Oilers skating lines Saturday:

Nugent-Hopkins-McDavid-Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Arvidsson
Janmark – Henrique – Brown
Skinner-Ryan-Perry

Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Dermott
Kulak – Emberson
Stecher

Skinner
Pickard