Senators at Maple Leafs preview
Anderson could start for Ottawa; Nylander eyes goal in sixth straight for Toronto
by Dave McCarthy / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
SENATORS (18-24-9) at MAPLE LEAFS (27-17-7)
7 p.m. ET; CBC, SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, NHL.TV
The Game
William Nylander will try to extend his goal streak to a season-high six games when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.
The forward has scored once in each of his past five games and has eight points (five goals, three assists) in a six-game point streak.
Goalie Michael Hutchinson will start for the Maple Leafs, who have won two straight after going 1-3-2 in their previous seven games.
Goalie Craig Anderson could start for the Senators in the second half of a back to back after goalie Marcus Hoberg made 32 saves in a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday. Ottawa is 2-1-1 in its past four games following a nine-game winless streak (0-6-3).
Players to watch
Senators forward Connor Brown has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past six games.
Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner has 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in his past 21 games and 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 12 games against Ottawa.
They said it
"We upped our compete level and stayed with Washington for the second part of the game on Friday so I was happy about that. There were a lot of things I was happy with but I didn't think we were ready to get into that battle with them off the hop but we found our way in. Toronto is going to be another good test for us." -- Senators coach D.J. Smith
"It's less of a trap game because we're coming off a break. … They're playing well and they've given a lot of teams trouble lately and you get into trap games when you've been grinding for a little bit and maybe overlook a team, but this isn't the case. We're trying to get rolling out of the break and we know we have important points to get tonight." -- Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza
Senators projected lineup
Brady Tkachuk -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Connor Brown
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Chris Tierney -- Anthony Duclair
Tyler Ennis -- Colin White -- Drake Batherson
Filip Chlapik -- Artem Anisimov -- Scott Sabourin
Thomas Chabot -- Ron Hainsey
Mark Borowiecki -- Dylan DeMelo
Mike Reilly -- Nikita Zaitsev
Craig Anderson
Marcus Hoberg
Scratched: Cody Goloubef, Mikkel Boedker
Injured: Anders Nilsson (concussion), Nick Paul (ankle)
Maple Leafs projected lineup
Zach Hyman -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner
Alexander Kerfoot -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Andreas Johnsson -- Pierre Engvall -- Kasperi Kapanen
Trevor Moore -- Frederik Gauthier -- Jason Spezza
Martin Marincin -- Tyson Barrie
Jake Muzzin -- Justin Holl
Rasmus Sandin -- Cody Ceci
Michael Hutchinson
Frederik Andersen
Scratched: Dmytro Timashov
Injured: Ilya Mikheyev (wrist laceration), Morgan Rielly (fractured foot), Travis Dermott (illness)
Status report
The Senators did not hold a morning skate so their lineup will not be confirmed until game time. ... Marincin, who has been a healthy scratch past two games, will replace Dermott on the first defense pair.
Stat pack
Ennis has five points (two goals, three assists) in a four-game point streak. ... Matthews has 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 13 games against Ottawa.