Preview: Ducks Homestand Continues Tonight Against Red-Hot Maple Leafs

Needless to say, it's been an up-and-down stretch for the Ducks.
It started with a 4-1 loss in LA on November 6. But the following night saw the Ducks skate away with a 3-2 victory over Calgary at Honda Center. Then, just two days later, they found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-1 loss at home against Minnesota. Knowing that effort just wasn't good enough, the Ducks earned a 2-1 shootout victory over Nashville, handing the Predators their first road loss of any kind this season. Then came the game in Vegas on Wednesday that saw the Ducks suffer their first shutout loss of the season, a 5-0 setback that brought them back to square one.

"We have to get some stretches where we're consistently executing at a high level," said goaltender Ryan Miller. "It's everybody in the room."
So now, they find themselves with another opportunity to right the ship. Like the Predators, tonight's opponent comes in with a sparkling road record. They've opened their California road trip with consecutive victories over the Kings (5-1) and San Jose Sharks (5-3). Despite not having star center Auston Matthews (who is out with a shoulder injury) or William Nylander (currently a restricted free agent), the Toronto Maple Leafs come in with a 13-6-0 record overall and rank third in the league in standings points (26).
Offense isn't an issue with the Leafs, who enter tonight's game with 68 goals for. In his first season with Toronto, John Tavares leads the club in goals (12) and ranks third in points (23). Mitch Marner paces the club with 25 points (6g/19a) and defenseman Morgan Rielly ranks close behind with 24 (8g/16a). Former Ducks goaltender Freddie Andersen has an 11-5-0 record with a 2.08 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in 16 appearances this season, including a 7-0 mark on the road. He turned in a 42-save performance last night in a 5-3 victory in San Jose. Because of the back-to-back scheduling, Garret Sparks could get the start tonight in Anaheim. The 25-year-old netminder has gone 2-1-0 with a 4.00 GAA and .879 SV% in three games this season.
Tonight's contest opens a two-game season series between the Ducks and Maple Leafs, and the lone game held at Honda Center. The Ducks own an all-time mark of 12-24-16 vs. the Leafs, including an 8-10-1 record at home. Ryan Kesler has 15 points (6g/9a) in 19 career games against Toronto, tops among active Ducks. The series finale will take place on Monday, February 4 at Scotiabank Arena.