TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (38-22-3) at UTAH HOCKEY CLUB (28-25-10)
When: Monday, 10 p.m., Delta Center
TV: Sportsnet Ontario Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Maple Leafs -152, Utah HC +121
The buzz
The Maple Leafs have waded into worrisome territory as they’re winless in three games and have fallen four points behind the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division. A loss on Monday in their first visit to Salt Lake City would give the Leafs their first four-game winless streak of 2024-25 … There’s a shining light in Utah’s first year of existence (in Salt Lake City, at least) and he goes by the name of Clayton Keller. With 72 points, Keller was 12th in NHL scoring and has 15 points (five goals and 10 assists) in his past nine games. No other Utah player has more than 49 points. Against the Leafs in his career, though, Keller has just one goal in 12 games. He has scored more against every other NHL team … Leafs goalie Joseph Woll, on being pulled for the first time in his NHL career in Vegas on Wednesday after allowing three goals on seven shots: “It sucks and it’s not fun. A good learning experience … Bad games have a good way of being the biggest learning experiences, so in that way, they’re actually good. They don’t seem very good in the moment.” … In the only other meeting this season, Mitch Marner scored two goals in a 3-2 Leafs win in Toronto on Nov. 24 … The Leafs are 10th on the power play at 24.1%, while Utah is right behind them in 11th at 23.6% … Old Leafs friend Alex Kerfoot has played a significant role in Utah’s penalty kill, which sits ninth at 81.2%. Kerfoot is second among Utah forwards in ice time on the kill … After winning six of eight, Utah has lost two of its past three games.
The news
Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev will miss his sixth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. “He is battling through this, he is going through practice,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “He is not where he wants to be and we have to be careful with the situation. It’s unfortunate because we do miss him. He’s a big part of our team, but at the same time, we want to do what’s best for the player and the player has to do what is best for himself.” … Utah recalled goalie Jaxson Stauber from Tucson of the American Hockey League following the announcement that netminder Connor Ingram has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
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The quote
“You want to get the results you’re after and when you don’t, it just makes you a bit hungrier. We’re looking to end this trip off right. It has been good to have everyone together and spend this much time together, but ultimately, you want to get the results.”
— Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly
The poll
If the Leafs lose Mitch Marner in free agency, which forward would you like to see them sign?
- Nikolaj Ehlers
- Brad Marchand
- Sam Bennett
- Matt Duchene
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander
Pontus Holmberg-Scott Laughton-Max Domi
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Nick Robertson
Defence
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit-Philippe Myers
Goal
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
The injuries
TOR: D Chris Tanev (upper body), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed).
UTAH: F Nick Bjugstad (upper body), D Robert Bortuzzo (lower body).
The prediction
Leafs win, 4-1. This skid won’t last forever and it should end against an inferior team.
X: @koshtorontosun