Minnesota @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 3, 2019 ) Minnesota 4, Toronto 3

The Toronto Maple Leafs put a three-game losing streak behind them with a strong effort and try for their second straight victory when they host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Toronto halted a 0-2-1 run with a 5-2 victory at Detroit on Saturday and, while the Maple Leafs appear to have the talent to win their first Stanley Cup since 1967, coach Mike Babcock knows that's not enough.

"We thought our work ethic was really good in camp, really good at the start," Babcock told reporters after Saturday's game. "Liked it all the way through. We didn't like it (in our previous) game (7-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday), but to me, that's got to be our calling card. If we go to work, our talent will show. You've got to outwork the other team. That's the bottom line." Minnesota won at Ottawa 2-0 on Monday afternoon for its first victory of the season. "At this point, it didn't matter how it happened, we needed to get into that win column," Wild left wing Zach Parise told reporters after scoring into an empty net for his second goal of the season. "Fortunately, we did (today). We know we've got a tough game (Tuesday) against Toronto, but there is a sense of relief that we won a game." The Wild on Tuesday play the middle contest of their second three-game road trip of the season after they were outscored 14-6 in losses to Nashville, Colorado and Winnipeg to open the campaign.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), TSN4 (Toronto)

ABOUT THE WILD (1-4-0): Victor Rask scored his first goal of the season Monday in his second game after being a healthy scratch in the first three contests. Mats Zuccarello, who signed a five-year, $30 million contract during the offseason, is expected to miss his second straight game because of an undisclosed injury after he was held off the scoresheet in the first four contests. Devan Dubnyk (0-4-0, 4.56 goals-against average, .862 save percentage this season) is 6-3-1, 2.72, .910 in 11 games (10 starts) versus Toronto and is expected to play Tuesday after Alex Stalock stopped 26 shots Monday for his sixth career shutout.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (3-2-1): Toronto has plenty of offensive firepower but secondary options such as Trevor Moore (three goals this season), Ilya Mikheyev and Alexander Kerfoot (two goals apiece), and Nick Shore scored Saturday. "We have lots of depth here," defenseman Jake Muzzin, who also scored against Detroit, told reporters. "We have smart hockey players and guys that are working hard and hungry, so that's a great combination to have." Frederik Andersen is expected to be in goal Tuesday and is 4-3-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in seven games against Minnesota.

OVERTIME

1. Toronto C Auston Matthews (club-best six goals) has scored on 20.7 percent of his team-high 29 shots.

2. The Wild have killed 16-of-19 penalties this season after Ottawa went 0-for-5 on the power play.

3. The clubs split their two-game series in each of the last two seasons with the road team winning both times in 2018-19.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 3, Wild 2