Maple Leafs at Penguins preview

MAPLE LEAFS (31-21-8) at PENGUINS (36-15-6)
7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV

The Penguins are second in the division, one point behind the Washington Capitals, and 11-3-1 in their past 15 games and 19-5-2 in their past 26. They won their two most recent games by the combined score of 9-2 (4-1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and 5-1 against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday).
The Maple Leafs are third in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Florida Panthers. They are 3-4-1 in their past eight games after winning four of their previous six (4-1-1).

Players to watch

Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman has seven points (four goals, three assists) in a six-game point streak.
Penguins center Sidney Crosby has 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 12 games since returning from core muscle surgery Jan. 14.

They said it

"We have to make sure we're coming in, we're ready and we have our format down." -- Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner
"We're not paying a whole lot of attention to it right now. There's a whole lot of hockey to be played." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan on the standings

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Zach Hyman -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner
William Nylander -- John Tavares -- Alex Kerfoot
Pierre Engvall - Frederik Gauthier -- Kasperi Kapanen
Kyle Clifford -- Jason Spezza - Dmytro Timashov
Jake Muzzin -- Justin Holl
Rasmus Sandin
-- Tyson Barrie
Martin Marincin -- Travis Dermott
Frederik Andersen
Jack Campbell
Scratched: Egor Korshkov, Timothy Liljegren
Injured:Cody Ceci (ankle), Andreas Johnsson (knee), Ilya Mikheyev (wrist laceration), Morgan Rielly (foot)

Penguins projected lineup

Jason Zucker -- Sidney Crosby -- Dominik Simon
Jared McCann -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Brandon Tanev -- Teddy Blueger -- Patric Hornqvist
Dominik Kahun -- Andrew Agozzino -- Sam Lafferty
Jack Johnson -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Justin Schultz
Juuso Riikola -- Chad Ruhwedel
Tristan Jarry
Matt Murray
Scratched:Anthony Angello
Injured:Nick Bjugstad (core muscle surgery), Brian Dumoulin (ankle surgery), Jake Guentzel (shoulder surgery), John Marino (facial surgery), Zach Aston-Reese (lower body)

Status report

The Maple Leafs will adjust their third and fourth lines, as well as their defense pairs. Gauthier, Timashov and Marincin will enter the lineup. … Kahun will be a game-time decision after missing eight games with a concussion. … Aston-Reese, who usually plays left wing on the third line, is week to week after he was injured Sunday.

Stat pack

Andersen has allowed eight goals in his past two games. … McCann will play his 300th NHL game. … Letang has six points (three goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak. … Jarry is 12-3-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in his past 16 games.