Leafs @ :stars: Preview and is available for view here: TSN (HD), FS-SW (HD) with a scheduled start on TV of 8:00pm EDT.
Season Series: This will be the sole meeting between Dallas and Toronto this season. In their only matchup last year, the Stars romped in a rare visit to the ACC, beating the Leafs, 8-2, behind a hat trick by James Neal.
Big Story: After knocking off the Ducks on Monday for their first win of the year, the remade Maple Leafs will look to carry their momentum into Dallas.
Team Scope:
Maple Leafs: It may have taken far longer than anticipated, but Toronto finally grabbed its first win
of the season Monday and all it took was for GM Brian Burke to return to his old stomping grounds.
Despite struggling to find any sort of offensive groove in their first eight games, the Leafs were clicking on all cylinders in Anaheim, where Burke built a Stanley Cup champion three seasons ago. Toronto scored six goals on a Ducks team that still has many key cogs from its title season, with left wing Niklas Hagman leading the way with three of the Leafs' five power play goals. While Toronto still has a ways to climb in the standings, many players still feel as though a weight has been lifted.
"It is a big relief," defenseman Tomas Kaberle said. "We never thought we would go (winless) until late October."
:stars: Fortunes have been far better for the Stars for much of this season, as the conference finalists from two years ago currently sit sixth in the West and just two points behind first-place Los Angeles in the Pacific Division. Dallas, too, is coming off a victory, a 4-1 win in St. Louis Saturday, but their grit and mettle might be tested against a very physical Leafs team. Toronto made a point of flexing its muscle early against Anaheim, and Dallas will be without its typical answer, as grinder Steve Ott has been suspended for two games after a low hit on the Blues' Carlo Colaiacovo.
Still, even without Ott the Stars bring a solid offense -- they're ninth in the League in goals per game -- and bring a rejuvenated Marty Turco to the table.
Who's Hot: After an uncharacteristically average season last year, Turco seems to have found his game again. The three-time all-star has won two straight while sporting a 2.19 goals against average. He isn't the only hot Star as James Neal and Loui Eriksson have combined for 11 points in the last three games. For Toronto, last night wasn't Hagman's only noteworthy night of the season. His hat trick may have been a breakout performance, but Hagman has recorded a point in all but two games this year.
Season Series: This will be the sole meeting between Dallas and Toronto this season. In their only matchup last year, the Stars romped in a rare visit to the ACC, beating the Leafs, 8-2, behind a hat trick by James Neal.
Big Story: After knocking off the Ducks on Monday for their first win of the year, the remade Maple Leafs will look to carry their momentum into Dallas.
Team Scope:
Maple Leafs: It may have taken far longer than anticipated, but Toronto finally grabbed its first win
of the season Monday and all it took was for GM Brian Burke to return to his old stomping grounds.
Despite struggling to find any sort of offensive groove in their first eight games, the Leafs were clicking on all cylinders in Anaheim, where Burke built a Stanley Cup champion three seasons ago. Toronto scored six goals on a Ducks team that still has many key cogs from its title season, with left wing Niklas Hagman leading the way with three of the Leafs' five power play goals. While Toronto still has a ways to climb in the standings, many players still feel as though a weight has been lifted.
"It is a big relief," defenseman Tomas Kaberle said. "We never thought we would go (winless) until late October."
:stars: Fortunes have been far better for the Stars for much of this season, as the conference finalists from two years ago currently sit sixth in the West and just two points behind first-place Los Angeles in the Pacific Division. Dallas, too, is coming off a victory, a 4-1 win in St. Louis Saturday, but their grit and mettle might be tested against a very physical Leafs team. Toronto made a point of flexing its muscle early against Anaheim, and Dallas will be without its typical answer, as grinder Steve Ott has been suspended for two games after a low hit on the Blues' Carlo Colaiacovo.
Still, even without Ott the Stars bring a solid offense -- they're ninth in the League in goals per game -- and bring a rejuvenated Marty Turco to the table.
Who's Hot: After an uncharacteristically average season last year, Turco seems to have found his game again. The three-time all-star has won two straight while sporting a 2.19 goals against average. He isn't the only hot Star as James Neal and Loui Eriksson have combined for 11 points in the last three games. For Toronto, last night wasn't Hagman's only noteworthy night of the season. His hat trick may have been a breakout performance, but Hagman has recorded a point in all but two games this year.
