Toronto Maple Leafs (30-17-2) at Ottawa Senators (24-20-4)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m., Canadian Tire Centre
TV: CBC, Sportsnet Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Maple Leafs -115, Senators -105
THE BUZZ
The Senators didn’t spend Friday trying to regain a scoring touch, as they took the day off and didn’t practise. Coach Travis Green’s group has been shut out in its past two games, both on the road — 2-0 by the Boston Bruins on Thursday and 5-0 by the New York Rangers on Tuesday. In January, the Sens have been blanked in five of their 11 games … In the only previous meeting in the Battle of Ontario in 2024-25, the Sens beat the Leafs 3-0 in Toronto on Nov. 12. The Leafs’ 28 shot attempts at five-on-five were among their lowest in a game this season. The teams meet one more time, on March 15 at Scotiabank Arena … Ottawa was a respectable 13th in the NHL on the power play before games on Friday, but is just 1-for-19 in its past seven games … Among the Sens who have been struggling: Captain Brady Tkachuk is mired in a career-high nine-game pointless streak; since recording a hat trick against Anaheim on Dec. 11, Drake Batherson has two goals in his past 20 games; and Claude Giroux has two goals in his past 22 games. Team scoring leader Tim Stutzle is feeling it as well with just three goals in his past 13 games … The Sens’ ability to create offence is an issue. At five-on-five, they have 354 high-danger chances, third-fewest in the NHL heading into Friday, per naturalstattrick.com. The Leafs were 10th with 432 … Who will be motivated more? The Leafs, coming off a tough 5-1 loss against Columbus, or the Sens, who have fallen out of a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference?
THE NEWS
Forward Jacob Quillan is expected to make his National Hockey League debut for the Leafs. It comes after a total of 42 games with the Toronto Marlies and following a fine college career in three seasons at Quinnipiac University … With Matthew Knies out, Bobby McMann moves to the left wing on the top line with captain Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, while Max Domi moves up to the left side with Pontus Holmberg and William Nylander.
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THE QUOTE
“We have to be emotionally invested in the game. That’s the biggest thing for me. They’re going to be emotionally invested for sure. They come hard and they have good young players. It’s going be a hard game, so we’re going to have to work and check and do our job. Last time they were in (Toronto), they took advantage of us.”
— Leafs coach Craig Berube on what he expects from the Senators
THE POLL
With 20 goals in 34 games, and with 33 games remaining, what range do you expect Auston Matthews to wind up at season’s end?
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THE PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP
Forwards
Bobby McMann–Auston Matthews–Mitch Marner
Max Domi–Pontus Holmberg–William Nylander
Steven Lorentz–David Kampf–Nick Robertson
Jacob Quillan–Fraser Minten–Ryan Reaves
Defence
Morgan Rielly–Jake McCabe
Oliver Ekman-Larsson–Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit–Philippe Myers
Goal
Joseph Woll
Matt Murray
THE INJURIES
TOR: C John Tavares (lower body), LW Matthew Knies (upper body), F Max Pacioretty (upper body), G Anthony Stolarz (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Connor Dewar (upper body).
OTT: G Linus Ullmark (back), D Jake Sanderson (undisclosed), F Cole Reinhardt (upper body), F Josh Norris (upper body), D Nick Jensen (undisclosed), D Travis Hamonic (lower body), F Noah Gregor (lower body), D Jacob Bernard-Docker (ankle).
THE PREDICTION
The Leafs avenge the shutout loss to the Senators in November. 4-1 Toronto.