Maple Leafs at Penguins preview

MAPLE LEAFS (18-10-1) at PENGUINS (16-11-3)
7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV

Crosby, who is second on the Penguins with 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 30 games, had four points (two goals, two assists) in three games against the Maple Leafs last season.
Matthews, who leads the Maple Leafs with 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 25 games, had two points (one goal, one assist) in three games against the Penguins last season.
Toronto won two of the three games between the teams last season. The Maple Leafs lost 4-1 in Pittsburgh on Nov. 12, 2016, won 2-1 in overtime in Toronto on Dec. 17, 2016, and won 5-3 to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Toronto on April 8.

Players to watch

Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen is 9-2-1 with two shutouts and has allowed 22 goals in his past 12 games.
Penguins forward Phil Kessel has a goal in three straight games. He has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past eight.

They said it

"Obviously they have the experience. They have the rings. … We're trying to become what they've been." -- Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock
"Anytime there's a younger generation that comes up, it's probably just one more motivating factor that [makes center Sidney Crosby try] to keep himself at his best." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Zach Hyman -- Auston Matthews -- Connor Brown
Patrick Marleau -- Nazem Kadri -- Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk -- Tyler Bozak -- Mitchell Marner
Matt Martin -- Dominic Moore -- William Nylander
Morgan Rielly -- Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner -- Nikita Zaitsev
Andreas Borgman -- Roman Polak
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
Scratched:Connor Carrick, Nikita Soshnikov, Josh Leivo
Injured: None

Penguins projected lineup

Conor Sheary -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Jake Guentzel -- Evgeni Malkin -- Phil Kessel
Carl Hagelin -- Riley Sheahan -- Patric Hornqvist
Dominik Simon
-- Carter Rowney -- Ryan Reaves
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Olli Maatta -- Matt Hunwick
Ian Cole -- Chad Ruhwedel
Tristan Jarry
Casey DeSmith
Scratched:Kevin Czuczman
Injured:Matt Murray (lower body), Justin Schultz (lower body), Tom Kuhnhackl (upper body)

Status report

The Maple Leafs aren't expected to make any change to their lineup from their previous game, a 2-1 shootout win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. … Murray took part in the morning skate for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury Nov. 27. "It just feels really good to be back," Murray said. "I wouldn't be out there if there were any restrictions. … Day-to-day type thing." … Kuhnhackl will be a game-time decision.

Stat pack

The Maple Leafs power play is fifth in the NHL at 22.1 percent. … The Penguins are 24 for 26 (92.3 percent) on the penalty kill during their past seven games.