Dec 6, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs heart Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck in opposition to the Washington Capitals in the course of the first interval at Scotiabank Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Photos The Toronto Maple Leafs, one of many hottest groups within the NHL, get an opportunity to shake off a uncommon latest loss after they go to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday evening.
Toronto had gained three in a row and 10 of 12 to take excessive spot within the Atlantic Division earlier than the momentum was halted in a 3-1 residence loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday.
The Penguins additionally skilled a downturn on Friday, as a 4-2 loss to the host New York Rangers ended Pittsburgh’s season-high four-game profitable streak.
The Maple Leafs had gained 5 consecutive residence video games earlier than the Capitals arrived and set a franchise file with their eighth straight highway victory.
The sport was tied 1-1 earlier than Washington’s Connor McMichael scored at 9:51 of the third interval, and Aliaksei Protas added an empty-net aim within the last minute.
“As a substitute of simply going the opposite approach with the puck, we introduced it again an excessive amount of tonight,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube stated. “It began from the primary interval on for the entire recreation. That finally bit us and price us. We did not play a north recreation, we did not play quick tonight. They have been the higher staff. They deserved to win.”
The Capitals saved Toronto’s Auston Matthews off the scoresheet. The Maple Leafs’ captain missed 9 video games with an upper-body damage earlier than returning to attain a aim in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, then added two targets in opposition to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.
Toronto proper winger Mitch Marner had his eight-game level streak finish in opposition to the Capitals. He produced 5 targets and 11 assists within the streak.
Marner averages at the least some extent a recreation in opposition to 24 of the 32 groups within the NHL, together with the Penguins. He has 22 factors (5 targets, 17 assists) in 21 video games vs. Pittsburgh.
Just like the Maple Leafs, the Penguins stumbled within the third interval on Friday. The Rangers’ Reilly Smith scored the tiebreaking aim at 9:53 of the third, and Vincent Trocheck added an insurance coverage tally at 18:22.
Alex Nedeljkovic made 28 saves in opposition to New York, so Tristan Jarry is predicted to start out in aim versus the Maple Leafs.
Jarry is 5-3-0 in his profession in opposition to Toronto with a .909 save share and a pair of.86 goals-against common. He final confronted the Maple Leafs on Dec. 16, 2023, when he allowed 4 targets on 14 pictures earlier than he was lifted within the second interval of the 7-0 loss.
Blake Lizotte scored the primary aim of the sport in opposition to the Rangers to proceed his stable first marketing campaign with the Penguins. He has 5 targets in 12 video games after scoring seven in 62 video games with the Los Angeles Kings final season.
Philip Tomasino additionally scored his third aim in 5 video games for Pittsburgh since he was acquired from the Predators on Nov. 25 for a fourth-round decide within the 2027 NHL Draft.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan will log his 700th recreation with the franchise on Saturday. He’ll develop into the twenty first individual to educate at the least 700 video games for one NHL staff.
“I’m so privileged to have the chance to educate right here in Pittsburgh,” stated Sullivan, who beforehand coached the Boston Bruins for 2 seasons. “It is a first-class group. Been by a few possession teams. Each teams convey such first-class management to what we do right here.”
–Area Degree Media