Maple Leafs at Rangers preview

MAPLE LEAFS (21-14-1) at RANGERS (19-12-4)
7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, MSG, NHL.TV

"I haven't played a game in a couple weeks, so I don't think I'm going to be out there trying to dipsy-doodle guys," Matthews said. "I'll just try to keep it simple and feel better and better every period."
The Maple Leafs were 2-4-0 without Matthews. They scored 14 goals, including eight against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Toronto was limited to two or fewer in the other five games, including four consecutive road losses.
"We haven't played as hard," coach Mike Babcock said.
The Rangers had a three-game winning streak stopped in a 4-3 shootout loss at the New Jersey Devils on Thursday but are 12-1-1 at home since Oct. 26.

Players to watch

Matthews has three goals in 12 games since Nov. 4. He also missed four games from Nov. 8-16 with an injury.
Rangers center Kevin Hayes has goals in back-to-back games and in three of the past four. He has a four-game point streak.

They said it

"The way the injury was, [Matthews] still was on the ice and still going. They got protocol for all these things so they went through all that protocol, but he still skated pretty good so it's not like he's been sitting around. … I expect him to be good." - Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock
"[Matthews] is someone who can change the game at any moment. He's a key part of their team. You see how they've done without him. I think that's a big hole for them. When he comes back, instantly it's someone who can light the lamp on you." -- Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Zach Hyman -- Auston Matthews -- William Nylander
Patrick Marleau -- Nazem Kadri -- Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk -- Tyler Bozak -- Mitch Marner
Matt Martin -- Dominic Moore -- Connor Brown
Morgan Rielly -- Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner -- Connor Carrick
Andreas Borgman --
Roman Polak
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
Scratched :Kasperi Kapanen](https://www.nhl.com/player/kasperi-kapanen-8477953?season=20172018), Josh Leivo, Martin Marincin](https://www.nhl.com/player/martin-marincin-8475716?season=20172018)
Injured:Nikita Soshnikov](https://www.nhl.com/player/nikita-soshnikov-8478373?season=20172018) (lower body), Nikita Zaitsev (lower body)

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Pavel Buchnevich
Rick Nash -- David Desharnais -- Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner -- Kevin Hayes -- J.T. Miller
Paul Carey --
Boo Nieves
-- Jimmy Vesey
Ryan McDonagh -- Nick Holden
Brady Skjei -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Marc Staal -- Brendan Smith
Henrik Lundqvist
Ondrej Pavelec
Scratched:Steven Kampfer
Injured:Jesper Fast (quad strain)

Status report

Nieves, who was a healthy scratch the past two games, replaces Fast, who will be out 2-3 weeks with a quad strain.

Stat pack

Lundqvist can tie Hall of Famer Tony Esposito for eighth on the NHL's all-time wins list. He has 422. … The Rangers have allowed 40 or more shots on goal in two straight games and eight of their past 17.