Penguins at Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews experienced a rarity with his first goalless game of this season while Sidney Crosby continues to long for his first tally of 2018-19. Matthews, however, has recorded multi-point performances in all seven of the Toronto Maple Leafs' contests heading into Thursday's home game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"He's a real player, he's just growing, he's just a kid and he's going to get better,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said of Matthews, who notched a pair of assists on Monday as Toronto skated to its fifth straight win with a 4-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings. Mitch Marner scored on Monday to increase his point total to nine (three goals, six assists) in his last four contests. Crosby has tormented Toronto with 26 goals and 31 assists in 40 career games in seasons past, but he has just four assists out of the blocks in 2018-19. "He had some grade-A chances," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "He had a couple of real high-quality chances. He seemed to have a few in the last couple of games. The puck just won't seem to go in the net for him right now. He's too good of a player to keep off the scoresheet."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, TVAS, TSN4 (Toronto)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (2-1-2): Matt Murray will make his first appearance since sustaining a concussion in practice on Oct. 8. The two-time Stanley Cup champion admitted that he could have a bit of rust heading in against the "dynamic" Maple Leafs and that "it's going to be a difficult game for us," although he has posted a .945 save percentage in four career encounters. Pittsburgh has ventured past regulation three times in five games this season, although it has dropped its last two: a 4-3 shootout loss at Montreal on Saturday and a 3-2 overtime decision versus Vancouver.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (6-1-0): Frederik Andersen is expected to return from a one-game absence due to a knee injury and get the nod on Thursday, although the 29-year-old Dane isn't all that sure. "I felt it but it didn't flare up too much," Andersen said. "And then (Sunday), it was swelling just a little bit more. So that's where we are. Nothing too serious but preventing me to be in some positions." Garret Sparks comes in with momentum after his 33-save performance on Monday and would get the nod if Andersen isn't ready.
OVERTIME
1. Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin is riding a six-game point streak versus Toronto.
2. Maple Leafs F Kasperi Kapanen tallied twice on Monday for his first career multi-goal performance to give him three goals and one assist in his last two outings.
3. Pittsburgh's fourth-ranked penalty kill (92.3 percent) will be put to the test against Toronto's top-rated power play (47.4).