Ottawa Senators (7-7-0) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (9-5-2)
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
TV: TSN4, TSN5 Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Senators +125, Maple Leafs -150
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The buzz
The Senators’ .500 record doesn’t tell their whole story. After winning four of their first six games under new coach Travis Green, the Sens have won just three of their past eight, though they are coming off an overtime win in Boston on Saturday … Ottawa is 2-5-0 on the road … In their past three games, all wins and all without captain Auston Matthews, the Leafs have turned their power play around, going 7-for-13. They’ll put that recent success to the test against a Sens penalty kill that was 19th in the NHL (76.9%) before games on Monday night … Both teams are 6-1-0 when leading after the first period … Ottawa forward Tim Stutzle, whose career high is 90 points done two years ago, has 19 points in 14 games, putting him on pace for 111. In 21 career games against the Leafs, the 22-year-old has 20 points (seven goals and 13 assists) … It’s first of three meetings in the Battle of Ontario in 2024-25. The teams play each other again on Jan. 25 in Ottawa and on March 15 in Toronto.
The news
Sens forward Shane Pinto will return to the lineup after missing the past eight games with an undisclosed injury. In his absence, Ottawa went 3-5-0. Pinto turns 24 on Tuesday.
The quote
“You see the two guys at the net inside on all these goals. That’s the biggest difference. We’re just attacking downhill and with those two guys at the net, and the rebounds and puck play, you get loose pucks and you score goals off it. It’s just more of an attack mentality downhill. The numbers at the net are the key.”
— Leafs coach Craig Berube on the team’s leap forward on the power play
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Max Domi-Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander
Nick Robertson-Pontus Holmberg-Connor Dewar
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves
Defence
Morgan Rielly—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins
Goalies
Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll
The injuries
OTT: F David Perron (personal); TOR: C Auston Matthews (upper body), F Max Pacioretty (lower body), F Calle Jarnkrok (lower body), D Dakota Mermis (jaw); D Jani Hakanpaa (knee) is waiting for medical clearance.
The prediction
The Leafs finish their four-game home stand against Atlantic Division rivals with their fourth win in a row. 4-2 Toronto.
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