Toronto @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 10, 2019 ) Toronto 4, New Jersey 2

The middle of November was not a stretch to remember for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who staggered through a six-game losing streak that led to the dismissal of coach Mike Babcock. The Maple Leafs have regrouped under new coach Sheldon Keefe and will carry a season-high five-game winning streak into Friday night's road matchup at the New Jersey Devils.

High-powered Toronto scored 27 times in the last five games, punctuated by a five-goal third period in an 8-6 victory over Carolina on Monday afternoon in the final contest before the three-day Christmas break. “It’s finding that consistency and that has been starting to come as of late," captain John Tavares said. "Momentum and the belief is building and the trust in each other and the game is getting stronger.” The Devils labored through a rocky first three months that led to the firing of coach John Hynes and the trade of former Hart Trophy recipient Taylor Hall earlier this month. Holding down last place in the Metropolitan Division, New Jersey also entered the break on a high note with a season-high offensive output in a 7-1 romp over the Chicago Blackhawks.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVAS, Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto), MSG-Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (20-14-4): Keefe acknowledged he reconsidered the pairing of his top two scorers midway through Monday's win but held off and watched Mitch Marner score twice and set up a goal in a 59-second span to cap off a five-point night. Linemates Auston Matthews added a goal and an assist and Zach Hyman collected three assists. “I would say we’re still kind of in the experiment stage,” Keefe said of the unit. “How it works out long term is not necessarily just on how that goes, but how things underneath them go."

ABOUT THE DEVILS (12-19-5): In winning for only the third time in 12 games (3-8-1) and improving to 3-3-0 without Hall, New Jersey saw the end of lengthy goal droughts by defenseman P.K. Subban (23 games), rookie Jack Hughes (18) and John Hayden (12). “We need all 12 forwards and six D,” interim coach Alain Nasreddine said. “You can’t just rely on one guy.” Russian rookie Nikita Gusev has not scored a goal in 17 games dating to his last tally at Montreal on Nov. 16, but he has elevated his play with six assists in his last four.

OVERTIME

1. Toronto swept all three meetings last season, outscoring New Jersey 17-5.

2. Devils G Mackenzie Blackwood allowed two goals in one period in his lone appearance versus Toronto.

3. Marner is riding an eight-game point streak overall and had two goals and three points in three meetings in 2018-19.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 4, Devils 2