(SportsNetwork.com) – The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to extend their point
streak to five straight games on Tuesday night as they resume their homestand
against the Dallas Stars.
The Leafs have gone 3-0-1 since getting routed by Nashville 9-2 on Nov. 18 and
kicked off a five-game residency with a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals
on Saturday.
Jonathan Bernier had 35 saves and Tyler Bozak scored twice. He has a goal in
three straight and leads Toronto with 11 tallies this season.
Joffrey Lupul and Morgan Rielly added a goal and assist each for the Maple
Leafs, while Cody Franson and David Clarkson also scored. James van Riemsdyk,
Jake Gardiner and Phil Kessel contributed two helpers each.
“I think we’re playing more a team game. I think we’re moving the puck a lot
faster and we’re not trying to make too many one-on-one plays,” noted Bozak.
“We’re turning the puck over a lot less in the key areas of the ice and trying
to start a forecheck and get in and wear them down.”
Toronto did lose forward Leo Komarov to a head injury in Saturday’s game and
he is questionable for tonight.
While the Leafs have built up some momentum, the Stars will be trying to avoid
a third straight defeat tonight. They lost contests on Friday and Saturday
following a three-game winning streak.
Dallas lost its second in a row with a 5-2 setback to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avs outshot the Stars 47-24 in the game, unleashing 17 shots in the second
period while scoring the go-ahead goal late in the frame.
Backup Anders Lindback did his best to keep the Stars in the game, making 42
saves.
“They had pressure a long time in the second period there and ended up getting
a goal,” said Lindback.
Cody Eakin and Patrick Eaves lit the lamp in the first period for the Stars.
Though forward Ryan Garbutt is eligible to return from a two-game suspension
handed down for kneeing Edmonton’s Taylor Hall, defenseman Alex Goligoski did
not practice on Monday due to a lower-body injury and is questionable.
The Maple Leafs have won two straight at home over the Stars, but Dallas is
5-1-2 in the past eight meetings overall.
