NHL: 4 things to know for Tuesday night | CBC Sports - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 15, 2024, 02:00 AM | Calgary | -5.3°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
HockeyPreview

NHL: 4 things to know for Tuesday night

The Maple Leafs hope to build off their last win that halted a franchise-worst 11-game losing skid Tuesday night, while the Habs and Jets look for more success on home ice.

Leafs look to build off last win; Habs in full flight

Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson hasnt lived up to the lucrative contract he signed with the team in July 2013. He'll be a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game when Toronto hosts the New York Rangers on Tuesday. (Canadian Press)

The Maple Leafs hope to build off their last win that halted a franchise-worst 11-game losing skid Tuesday night, while the Habs and Jets look for more success on home ice.

Here are four things you need to know for Tuesday night:

Maple Leafs remain in big hole

The Leafs may have stopped their franchise-worst 11-game losing streak, but the team remains in a big hole. Toronto (23-27-4) is 13 points behind the Boston Bruins for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. However, three other teams for the same post-season spot are ahead of the Leafs.

Leafs winger David Clarkson willsitfor a second consecutive game as a healthy scratch. Clarkson has been a free-agent bust since signing a seven-year, $36.75-million contract in July 2013. His deal is one of many reasons general manager Dave Nonis will likely be looking for workelsewhere at seasons end. Toronto will try for consecutive victories for the first time since winning six straight Dec. 6-16.

Clarkson had a heated conversation with coach Peter Horachek during Tuesdays practice.

The Rangers (30-16-5), sit in seventh place in the East, but have played the least amount of games among the current teams holding down playoff spots. But the Rangers are in danger of dropping three straight for the third time this season after Sunday's 3-2 overtime home loss to Dallas.

Canadiens in full flight

The Canadiens (34-15-3) hope to continue their surge to the top of the Eastern Conference when they host the Flyers (23-22-8) at the Bell Centre. Montreal, winner of two straight and seven of its last nine games, are coming off a season-sweep of the Bruins Sunday followinga 3-1 road victory.Goaltender Carey Price put in another standout effort after making 34 saves.

If the Flyers, who are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, are to stay the course theyll have to do it without No. 1 goaltender Steve Mason. Since missing six games with a knee injury, Mason had gone 3-0-1 with a 1.23 goals-against average going into Sunday's 3-1 victory at Washington. He stopped all eight shots before suffering a lower-body injury in the second period.

Life without Evander

Life without Evander Kane continues of the Jets (27-18-10). Winnipeg ended a season-worst six-game losing streakafter a 5-3 at the MTSCentre against Colorado on Sunday. Despite the slide, the Jets remain six points ahead of Minnesota for the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg is in search of its first post-season appearance since 2007, when the team was in Atlanta.

The Wild (26-20-6) wont be an easy out. Since acquiring goaltender Devan Dubnyk from Arizona on Jan. 15, Minnesota, which has won six straight games, has put together their longest winning streak of the season.

Senators, Oilerscontinue misery

The Senators (20-22-9) will try to avoid their longest losing streak in two months as they visit last-place Buffalo (16-35-3).

A victory would give Ottawa its 11th victory over the Sabres in 15 meetings.

The New York Islanders (34-18-1) wont be taking the lowly Edmonton Oilers 15-30-9 for granted at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, especially since losing to the last-place West team last month.

But the Islanders haven't lost to Edmonton at the Coliseum since Dec. 14, 1999.

With files from The Associated Press