New Jersey Devils (26-15-5) at Toronto Maple Leafs (27-16-2)
When: Thursday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
TV: TSN4 Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Devils -102, Maple Leafs -122
The buzz
If the Maple Leafs are beaten by the Devils in Sheldon Keefe’s return, they’ll do something that never happened during his tenure as coach in Toronto: Lose four games in a row in regulation. It hasn’t happened since Nov. 10-19, 2019, when the Leafs lost five in a row in regulation. After the fifth loss (and the sixth in a row overall), which came in Las Vegas, Mike Babcock was fired and Keefe was hired … The Devils have sputtered since Christmas, going 3-4-2 in nine games. Each of their past three have been decided beyond regulation, as they have lost and won in overtime and lost in a shootout … There was little difference between the teams’ penalty kill before games on Wednesday. The Devils were seventh in the NHL at 82.7% and the Leafs were eighth at 82.5% … New Jersey was third in the NHL on the power play at 27.9%, but in its past nine games, has only two power-play goals on 20 opportunities … In their previous two meetings this season, the Devils outshot the Leafs by a combined total of 62-39. Toronto won both games in Newark — 4-2 on Oct. 10 and 2-1 in overtime on Dec. 10.
The news
The Leafs lines listed below are contingent on the health of John Tavares, who was hurt in practice on Wednesday and was being evaluated. If he is out of the lineup, the thinking is that one of Max Domi, David Kampf or Pontus Holmberg would be promoted to centre the second line … Connor Dewar and Ryan Reaves were the likely scratches before Tavares was hurt. Expect Dewar to draw in if Tavares is not playing … Defenceman Jake McCabe looked good to return to the Leafs lineup after he missed the past four games with an upper-body injury.
The quote
We give you two quotes, and they’re both to do with the fact the Leafs were booed in the third period in home losses to Dallas and Vancouver on Tuesday and Saturday respectively:
“Just try to ignore it. We’re just trying to do our job out there and go out and put together a full 60.” — Mitch Marner
“Doesn’t really matter if they boo. We know we’re a good team.” — William Nylander
The poll
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Nick Robertson
Pontus Holmberg-David Kampf-Steven Lorentz
Defence
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers
Oliver Ekman-Larsson—Conor Timmins
Goal
Joseph Woll
Dennis Hildeby
The injuries
TOR: G Anthony Stolarz (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee).
NJ: F Erik Haula (ankle), F Stefan Noesen (illness).
The prediction
Much to the dismay of Keefe, the Leafs end their losing streak with a 3-1 victory.
X: @koshtorontosun