GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs, Stars meet in big clash of top-10 teams in Big D
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Toronto Maple Leafs (19-10-2) vs. Dallas Stars (19-11-0)
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., American Airlines Center
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GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs, Stars meet in big clash of top-10 teams in Big D Back to video
TV: Sportsnet Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Maple Leafs +109, Stars -135
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The buzz
It’s the fifth game of a six-game home stand for the Stars. They’ve won three of the first four, including the past two against Washington and St. Louis, respectively … The Stars and Maple Leafs are two of the top penalty-killing teams in the National Hockey League. Before games on Tuesday, Dallas was fifth at 83.% and Toronto was seventh at 82.1% … The Stars have been shorthanded 22 times in their past eight games and have allowed just two goals … Mason Marchment continues to demonstrate that trading him was one of the dumbest moves Kyle Dubas made during his tenure as Leafs general manager. Sent to Florida for little and little-used Denis Malgin in February 2020, Marchment is second among Stars in scoring with 27 points and, with 12 goals in 29 games, is well on his way to his second 20-goal season in the NHL. Malgin had four points in 31 games in parts of two seasons with the Leafs before he was traded to Colorado and is now back playing in his home country of Switzerland … The Stars’ 13 home wins are second-most in the NHL, behind only the Leafs’ 14 … Dallas is tied with Los Angeles for fewest goals-against. Each team has allowed 75. The Leafs aren’t far off at 81 … Since losing 6-3 in Dallas on Jan. 31, 2017, Toronto is 6-0 in its past six visits to Texas, outscoring the Stars 28-12.
The news
Centre David Kampf will be back for the Leafs. He has not played since Nov. 16, having missed the past 12 games with a lower-body injury … Connor Dewar, who practised as an eighth defenceman on Tuesday, will sit … In his only career start against Dallas, Leafs goalie Joseph Woll made 31 saves in a 4-1 Leafs road win on Oct. 26, 2023 … Jake Oettinger will be in net for the Stars on his 26th birthday. He’s in the midst of another fine season, posting a .913 save percentage in 23 games with a record of 16-7-0. Oettinger has lost his only two career starts against Toronto, allowing six goals on 67 shots.
The quote
“Fast team, skilled team, a lot of depth, good goaltending. They’ve been at the top of the league now for a couple of years. It’s always a challenge against them and we have to be ready to work.”
— Leafs captain Auston Matthews on the Stars
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
William Nylander-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Matthew Knies-John Tavares-Max Pacioretty
Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves
Defence
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Conor Timmins
Goalies
Joseph Woll
Dennis Hildeby
The injuries
DAL: F Tyler Seguin (hip), D Matt Dumba (upper body), D Thomas Harley (illness).
TOR: G Anthony Stolarz (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee).
The prediction
Given the defensive tendencies on both sides, a high-scoring game is unlikely. 2-1 Stars as the Leafs’ good run in Texas comes to an end.
X: @koshtorontosun
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