(SportsNetwork.com) – The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to extend their winning
streak to a season-high four games when they welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins
for Friday’s clash at Air Canada Centre.
The Maple Leafs have scored a total of 16 goals during their current hot
streak and they are coming off Wednesday’s impressive 6-1 victory over the
visiting Boston Bruins.
Toronto, however, has lost three straight and five of its past six meetings
with the Penguins and dropped a 5-2 home decision versus Pittsburgh on Oct.
11. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each registered a goal and two assists for
the Pens, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 23-of-25 shots in the easy win.
Pittsburgh, which is 5-1-1 on the road this season, has claimed three of the
past four meetings in Toronto.
Phil Kessel netted a pair of goals and Jonathan Bernier stopped 25 shots to
help the Leafs rout the Bruins on Wednesday. James van Riemsdyk and Tyler
Bozak both registered a score and two assists in Toronto’s most decisive win
of the season.
Peter Holland and Morgan Rielly added markers as Toronto pumped home a season-
high three power-play goals.
“I think we really felt like we owed Boston one,” Holland said of the Bruins’
4-1 win on Oct. 25. “Last time they were in here, we felt a little embarrassed
about our effort.”
Toronto has posted a 6-1-1 record over its last eight games and is hoping to
record its first four-game winning streak since taking six in a row from Jan.
12-21 of last season.
The Penguins, meanwhile, will try to get back on track after having a season-
high seven-game winning streak snapped with Tuesday’s blowout loss in New
York. The Rangers scored three times in the opening period en route to a 5-0
victory at Madison Square Garden.
Fleury finished with 30 saves for Pittsburgh, which had allowed just eight
goals total during its lengthy winning streak.
“We weren’t ready to compete,” Crosby said. “That’s really what it came down
to.”
Crosby, who leads the NHL with 24 points, was kept off the scoresheet
Tuesday after posting five assists in Pittsburgh’s previous game in Buffalo.
Pittsburgh’s captain has compiled 21 goals and 25 assists over 29 career games
against the Maple Leafs.
