Maple Leafs at Penguins
THE STORY: The Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins both enter the second half of the season with concussion issues as they meet Tuesday at the CONSOL Energy Center. Toronto will be without defenseman John-Michael Liles - who signed a contract extension just prior to the All-Star break - and forward Colby Armstrong for at least the next two games. Both players were placed on injured reserve in late-December with concussion issues but have resumed skating with the club and could be back early next month. Toronto had an uneven first half, but remains in the hunt to make the postseason for the first time since 2004. Pittsburgh is dealing with a much greater absence as captain Sidney Crosby remains on the sidelines with concussion symptoms. It was revealed during the break that Crosby is also dealing with a neck injury, the severity of which has yet to be determined. Crosby has played only eight games this season, but has said on several occasions he intends to return at some point in 2012.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (25-19-5): Forwards Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel have formed one of the top-scoring tandems in the league in 2011-12, but they'll need some help in the second half if the Maple Leafs hope to end their playoff drought. Much of the focus will be on playmaking center Tim Connolly, who signed a lucrative two-year deal with Toronto last offseason but has only 24 points through his first 37 games. Connolly has struggled of late, posting two assists in his last nine games.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (28-17-4): Crosby remains out indefinitely, but the return of defenseman Kris Letang has provided Pittsburgh with an offensive boost. Letang has four points in as many games since returning from a concussion that cost him nearly eight weeks. One of the top power-play quarterbacks in the league, the 24-year-old has yet to make much of an impact against the Maple Leafs. He has seven assists in 15 career games versus Toronto.
OVERTIME:
1. Toronto prevailed in the previous encounter 4-3 on Oct. 29. The teams have split their last 10 meetings.
2. Jonas Gustavsson will start in goal for the Maple Leafs. The Swede is 2-2-0 with a 3.76 goals against average in four career games against Pittsburgh.
3. Crosby took part in a 45-minute non-contact skate Monday with teammates Jordan Staal and Simon Despres, his most vigorous on-ice workout since being placed on injured reserve in early December.