TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (38-20-3) at VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (36-18-6)
When: Wednesday, 10 p.m., T-Mobile Arena
TV: TSN Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Maple Leafs -101, Golden Knights -122
The buzz
Not only have the Golden Knights won five of their past six games and are coming off a shutout win against New Jersey, they own one of the better home records in the National Hockey League at 22-6-3. Since losing to the New York Rangers at T-Mobile Arena on Jan. 11, Vegas, which sits in first place in the Pacific Division, is 5-0-3 in its past eight home games … Leafs captain Auston Matthews has just two goals in his past 12 games, but is riding a 10-game point streak. He has been sitting on 99 career power-play goals for a while, as he has not scored with a man advantage since Jan. 16, a span of 15 games. In his career against Vegas, Matthews has nine goals and three assists in 11 games … When the Leafs lost 3-2 in a shootout to San Jose on Monday after taking a 2-0 lead into the third period, it was the first time Toronto lost this season when leading after two periods. The Leafs are now 27-0-1 in that situation. The Golden Knights’ four regulation losses when leading after two periods are second-most in the NHL after San Jose’s seven … The Leafs’ last game before the NHL trade deadline on Friday also will mark their seventh visit to Vegas. Each team has won three of the previous six meetings in the Nevada desert … The Leafs have won eight of their past 10 road games … Since his contract was terminated by the St. Louis Blues and he signed with Vegas (after getting interest from Toronto), forward Brandon Saad has two goals and one assist in eight games.
The news
Given the packed schedule of late and coming off a back-to-back, the Leafs’ work day on Tuesday consisted only of flying to Vegas. The team did not practise … If Matthew Knies scores, he will do so for the fourth game in a row, which would be a personal high in the NHL. And if he records a point one way or another, he will run his point streak to five games, which also would be an NHL career-best for the 22-year-old … The Leafs dropped to 6-4-2 in the second game of back-to-back sets when the Sharks beat them. Toronto has four back-to-backs remaining … Joseph Woll is expected to start in net for the Leafs. On Nov. 20 against Vegas in Toronto, Woll made 31 saves in a 3-0 Leafs victory in the only other clash between the clubs in 2024-25. To date, it’s Woll’s only shutout of the season and one of just two he has in the NHL.
The quote
“They’re buying in. They’ve got some bigger defenders on the back end (than they had) from years past. Their goalies are playing really well too. They do a pretty good job of trying to own the middle of the ice and on the net-fronts.”
— Golden Knights forward Mark Stone on the Leafs
The poll
If the Leafs acquire a right-shooting defenceman before the trade deadline, who would you prefer?
- David Savard, Montreal
- Luke Schenn, Nashville
- Connor Murphy, Chicago
- Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Pontus Holmberg-John Tavares-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Nick Robertson
Connor Dewar-David Kampf-Calle Jarnkrok
Defence
Morgan Rielly—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe-Philippe Myers
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins
Goal
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
The injuries
TOR: D Chris Tanev (upper body), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed), F Steven Lorentz (undisclosed).
VGK: D Shea Theodore (arm), F William Karlsson (lower body), F Cole Schwindt (lower body).
The prediction
As good as the Leafs have been on the road, the Golden Knights are an awfully tough out at home. 4-3 Vegas.
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