ByRobby Stanley / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
MAPLE LEAFS (25-17-7) at PREDATORS (22-18-7) 8 p.m. ET; TSN4, TVAS, FS-TN, NHL.TV
Matthews did not play in the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game because of a right wrist injury. Muzzin was activated from injured reserve after missing the past 10 games with a broken foot sustained against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 27. The Maple Leafs are 1-3-2 in their past six games after going 9-0-1 in their previous 10. Goalie Pekka Rinne will start for the Predators, who are 4-6-1 in their past 11 games after going 6-2-2 in their previous 10. Rinne is 3-2-0 with a .921 save percentage in his past five games.
Players to watch
Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his past 10 games. Predators defenseman Roman Josi has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in his past 16 games.
They said it
"You want to be pushing and be rolling come playoff time. I'm sure you've heard that before. To go through some adversity now and fight through it and come out in a playoff spot at the end makes a team stronger for sure." -- Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin "Obviously we have some work to do to get into the playoffs, but it kind of works hand-in-hand when we want to go. We want to get hot at the right time so we're winning games going into the playoffs and attain a playoff berth and carry that throughout the playoffs." -- Predators forward Kyle Turris
The Maple Leafs recalled Gaudet, a forward, from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Sunday. … The Predators recalled forwards Sissons and Trenin and Tinordi, a defenseman, from Milwaukee of the AHL on Sunday.
Stat pack
Andersen is 8-2-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 11 games against the Predators. … Rinne is 5-4-2 with a 2.22 GAA and .915 save percentage in 12 games against the Maple Leafs.
