Spezza TOR DAL preview

MAPLE LEAFS (26-17-7) at STARS (28-17-4)
7:30 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, FS-SW, NHL.TV

The forward signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1 after playing the previous five seasons in Dallas, where he had 228 points (81 goals, 147 assists) in 379 games.
Toronto, which won 5-2 against the Nashville Predators on Monday, is 2-3-2 in its past seven games after going 9-0-1 in its previous ten. The Maple Leafs have scored at least four goals in seven straight road games, tying their record they previously set from Oct. 27-Nov. 18, 1981, and from Oct. 5-Nov. 2, 1983.
Dallas defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in overtime on Monday for its second win in five games.

Players to watch

Maple Leafs forward William Nylander has seven points (four goals, three assists) in a five-game point streak.
Stars goalie Ben Bishop is 5-1-0 with a 1.94 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in his past seven games.

They said it

"The offense will be hard to come by, so we want to make good on our chances. We also have to realize that we have to be patient and disciplined. They're a team that defends really well, transitions when you're vulnerable, and gets going the other way." -- Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe
"They can score, and I love their creativity. They're great on the rush and you can see them making a concerted effort to playing more structured defensively. We played a very disciplined, solid game against Tampa and took the approach that we'll get our offense from the defense. We'll take that same approach against Toronto." -- Stars coach Rick Bowness

Maple Leafs projected lineup
Stars projected lineup
Status report

Hintz, a forward, is day to day. … Cogliano (lower body) was on the ice for morning skate and is a game-time decision.

Stat pack

Marner has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his past 11 games. … Seguin has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in a six-game point streak against Toronto. … Benn has four goals in his past five games.