Maple Leafs at Predators
THE STORY: The luster appears to be wearing off the Toronto Maple Leafs' quick start to the regular season. Toronto has looked mostly ordinary over its last five games, and now has to deal with a rash of injuries as it travels to Nashville for a game against the Predators on Thursday night. Toronto continues to play without goaltender James Reimer (concussion) and will also be without a pair of key forwards. Clarke MacArthur will miss the game with an upper-body injury while linemate Mikhail Grabovski is out at least two weeks with a lower-body ailment. Nashville is coming off an impressive 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday and has just one regulation loss in its last nine games (6-1-2). The Predators have claimed three out of four points on their five-game homestand.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Leafs TV, Fox Sports Tennessee.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (10-6-2): Toronto is just 1-3-1 over its last five encounters despite their best player remaining red-hot. Phil Kessel had a goal in defeat as Toronto dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday. It was his league-best 13th goal and 25th point of the season, and extended his latest points streak to four games. Kessel has failed to hit the scoresheet just three times in 18 games so far in 2011-12. He has three points in four career games against Nashville.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (9-5-3): With goaltender Pekka Rinne signed for the long haul, the Predators have turned their attention to defenseman Ryan Suter. Talks between Suter and the club are said to be progressing as the Predators look to find a way to keep Rinne, Suter and All-Star blue liner Shea Weber in the fold. Rinne has been sensational since signing a seven-year, $49-million contract last month, going 6-0-2 with a goals-against average below two.
OVERTIME:
1. Toronto has prevailed in the last two meetings, including a 5-4 triumph in their previous encounter one year and one day ago.
2. Cody Franson will be in the lineup for the Maple Leafs against his former team. The veteran defenseman, who spent his first two seasons in Nashville, has suited up just four times for Toronto.