Maple Leafs at Flames preview

MAPLE LEAFS (40-21-4) at FLAMES (41-17-7)
9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN4, NHL.TV

The Maple Leafs are 4-1-0 in their past five after a three-game losing streak (0-2-1). Toronto is three points behind the Boston Bruins for second place in the Atlantic Division.
The Flames, who had their seven-game winning streak end in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, lead the San Jose Sharks by three points for first in the Western Conference and Pacific Division.

Players to watch

Maple Leafs forward John Tavares has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past six games, and 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in his past 14 games.
Flames forward Elias Lindholm has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his past 11 games.

They said it

"They've been really consistent. They just came off a seven-game winning streak. They've been really consistent this year. I think a big reason why is the scoring and the depth that they have all throughout their lineup." -- Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews on the Flames
"It's always fun playing against [the Maple Leafs]. The atmosphere is always great. I think both teams play a similar style, a lot of pace to our games, and both of us are having pretty good years. It'll be a good game." -- Flames defenseman Mark Giordano

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Zach Hyman -- John Tavares -- Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson -- Auston Matthews -- Kasperi Kapanen
Patrick Marleau -- William Nylander -- Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis -- Frederik Gauthier --
Trevor Moore
Morgan Rielly -- Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin -- Nikita Zaitsev
Martin Marincin -- Igor Ozhiganov
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
Scratched:Nic Petan, Justin Holl
Injured: Nazem Kadri (concussion), Jake Gardiner (back), Travis Dermott (shoulder)

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Elias Lindholm
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett -- Mark Jankowski -- Austin Czarnik
Andrew Mangiapane -- Derek Ryan -- Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano -- TJ Brodie
Noah Hanifin -- Travis Hamonic
Oliver Kylington -- Rasmus Andersson
David Rittich
Mike Smith
Scratched: Curtis Lazar, Dalton Prout, Oscar Fantenberg
Injured:James Neal (upper body), Michael Stone (blood clot)

Status report

Rittich will make his third start in the past 10 games. … Kylington will play after missing three games because of a lower-body injury.

Stat pack

Matthews has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in his past 10 games. ... Marner has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past five games. ... Nylander is two assists from 100 in the NHL … Backlund has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past eight games. ... Gaudreau has four assists during a three-game point streak.