Wild at Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been left with the bitter taste in their mouth after seeing their third five-game winning streak of the season halted by a listless performance. After being shut out for the second time in 2018-19, the Maple Leafs aim to get back on track Thursday afternoon when they host the Minnesota Wild.
Surging Toronto recorded at least a point in 10 of 12 outings (8-2-2) before providing a clunker with Saturday's 4-0 setback to the New York Islanders. "It just shows how good you have to be on a nightly basis to have success," six-time All-Star forward John Tavares said, per TSN. "With as much talent as we have, and the depth we have, we have to go out there and execute our game plan with the identity of the group. The attention to detail and work ethic has to be there for us to have success in this league." Minnesota enters the opener of a four-game road trip against all Atlantic Division foes on the heels of sustaining its sixth loss in seven outings (1-5-1) following Monday's 3-2 setback versus Pittsburgh. Mikael Granlund notched his team-leading 26th assist versus the Penguins and set up two goals in the Wild's 5-3 loss to Toronto on Dec. 1.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin, FS North (Minnesota), Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto)
ABOUT THE WILD (18-17-3): Eric Staal scored in the first meeting with Toronto to boost his point total to 51 (24 goals, 27 assists) in 46 career encounters. Fellow forward Zach Parise did not dent the scoresheet in that tilt, but he scored for the second time in three outings on Monday to boost his team-leading goal total to 17. All-Star Devan Dubnyk has been victimized by a limited offense as he skidded into the new year by appearing in losses in six of his last seven despite not permitting more than three goals in any of those outings.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (26-11-2): Garret Sparks is expected to receive his fourth straight start on Thursday with fellow goaltender Frederik Andersen sidelined because of a groin injury. "No update on Freddie. He didn't practice so obviously we're not going to see him tomorrow," coach Mike Babcock said on Wednesday. "... He's feeling pretty good, but I don't ask him. When they tell me (he's ready), I'll know." Sparks owns a 6-2-1 mark with one shutout, a 3.01 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage this season, but he sustained a hard-luck defeat against Minnesota in his lone encounter despite turning aside 20 of 22 shots.
OVERTIME
1. Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau's 85-year-old mother, Theresa, will be in attendance on Thursday to watch her son in his hometown of Toronto.
2. Maple Leafs C Zach Hyman, who scored twice in the first meeting with the Wild, has resumed skating after sustaining an ankle injury on Dec. 18.
3. Minnesota owns an 8-2-0 mark in its last 10 games against Toronto.