Wild-Toronto gameday preview

The Wild and Maple Leafs have each won five consecutive games and are meeting for the first time since Dec. 31, 2019.

December 2, 2021 at 3:44AM
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (Nathan Denette, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

6 p.m. vs. Toronto • Xcel Energy Center • BSN, 100.3-FM

Wild update: This wraps up a five-game homestand for the Wild, which has outscored the opposition 21-7 through the first four games. Overall, the team is on a season-high five-game win streak. LW Kirill Kaprizov has 10 points during a season-long, four-game point streak. G Cam Talbot will be back in net for the Wild after backing up Kaapo Kahkonen the past two games; Talbot has stopped 98 of the 103 shots he's faced over his last three starts, posting a 1.62 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in that span. On Friday, the team recalled D Kevin Czuczman from the American Hockey League and sent D Calen Addison back to Iowa.

Maple Leafs update: Like the Wild, the Maple Leafs are rolling. Not only have they won five in a row but 15 of 17 games overall. Their 17 victories this season are the most in the Eastern Conference. ... C Auston Matthews scored a hat trick on Wednesday vs. the Avalanche, giving him six goals over his past four games. C John Tavares is also in a groove, with nine points during a four-game point streak.

about the writer

about the writer

Sarah McLellan

Minnesota Wild and NHL

Sarah McLellan covers the Wild and NHL. Before joining the Star Tribune in November 2017, she spent five years covering the Coyotes for The Arizona Republic.

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