Ducks at Maple Leafs
Randy Carlyle is doing his best to put Monday's return to the Air Canada Centre in perspective. Currently behind the bench for the Anaheim Ducks, Carlyle leads his charges against the team he coached for parts of four seasons and played with during his NHL career when he visits the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"I'd be a fool to say it wouldn't mean something special," Carlyle told the Orange County Register. "But the bottom line is it’s what the Anaheim Ducks need. It's not what Randy Carlyle needs." Carlyle likely will see a familiar face in Frederik Andersen, who was shuffled from Anaheim to Toronto in the summer for the 30th overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft and a second-round selection in 2017. The 27-year-old Dane has yielded just six goals in his last four starts (2-0-2) and worked past regulation in three straight, highlighted by his 33-save performance in Saturday's 2-1 overtime victory over Pittsburgh. Anaheim has answered winning six of eight contests by falling for the second time in three outings on its current six-game road trip with a 6-4 setback in Detroit on Saturday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (16-11-5): Rickard Rakell scored twice to increase his team-leading goal total to 14 on Saturday and extend his point streak to a career-high six games. The 23-year-old Swede has collected five goals and three assists during that stretch, but has been held off the scoresheet in all five career meetings with the Maple Leafs with a minus-4 rating. Ryan Kesler, who notched two assists on Saturday to raise his point total to 13 in his last 12 games overall, owns 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 16 career encounters with Toronto.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (12-11-7): Toronto's rookie class continues to pay dividends, with Mitch Marner recording his seventh multi-point performance by setting up a pair of goals on Saturday to seize the team lead in assists (15). His 23 points are matched by fellow rookie Auston Matthews, as the top overall pick of the 2016 draft has eight goals and two assists over his last 11 contests. Toronto's rookies have totaled 100 points in 30 games in 2016-17 after amassing 103 in the previous three seasons combined.
OVERTIME
1. Anaheim C Andrew Cogliano, who has played in 736 straight games, will tie Jay Bouwmeester for fifth on the NHL's all-time list on Monday.
2. Toronto D Jake Gardiner's overtime goal on Saturday extended his point streak to five games (two goals, three assists).
3. The Ducks are 6-for-14 on the power play in the last four contests.