Toronto's first test in California is against the Kings, with a late start time of 10:30 p.m. ET.
Toronto's first test in California is against the Kings, with a late start time of 10:30 p.m. ET.
It's been a tough week for the Maple Leafs, but they hope to change that on the road in California.
Their first test: The top team in the state, the LA Kings.
Toronto is 3-4-3 in their last 10 games, losing to the likes of the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Buffalo Sabres in that span. However, as the team continues to rack up losses, they have improved at five-on-five and defensively.
"Five-on-five, I liked our game a lot. Defensively, we did not give up very much at all," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said following their 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. "That’s two games in a row now that we’ve given up very very little at five-on-five. But obviously (we) couldn’t score."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjPufB8-pA8[/embed]
With Ilya Samsonov down in the AHL with the Marlies, Martin Jones will likely get the starting assignment for Toronto on Tuesday against the Kings. Dennis Hildeby, in his first NHL stint, will back up the veteran goaltender.
The Maple Leafs have another game the following night against the Anaheim Ducks, but Keefe said on Monday, following practice, that the team hasn't "ruled out" starting Jones in back-to-back games.
There are no lineup changes for likely Toronto ahead of their first game in California. One positive note was that Ryan Reaves skated with the Maple Leafs in their practice on Monday morning. The 36-year-old has been out with a lower-body injury since Dec. 14 against the Blue Jackets.
Toronto and LA have met this season already, with the Kings leaving Scotiabank Arena with a 4-1 win on Halloween. Andreas Englund tallied his first NHL goal, with Phillip Danault, Arthur Kaliev, and Adrian Kempe also scoring.
Cam Talbot stopped 29 of 30 shots in that game. The 36-year-old started for the Kings in their last game, on Dec. 30 against the Edmonton Oilers, and likely sees the net on Tuesday night against the Maple Leafs.
Where to watch
In the Maple Leafs region, you'll be able to find the game on Sportsnet Ontario. The rest of Canada will be able to stream it on Sportsnet+. In the United States, the matchup can be streamed on ESPN+ or Hulu.
For the rest of the world, the game can be found on NHL Live. Remember, it's a late game, so the puck drop will be shortly after 10:30 p.m. ET.
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