Toronto @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 16, 2019 ) Toronto 1, Pittsburgh 6

The Pittsburgh Penguins have turned it up a notch over the last six weeks, posting an 11-3-1 record to pull within one point of first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins look to continue their march on Tuesday when they open a home-and-home series against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.

"For the most part, I think we're trending the right way and to me, that's encouraging," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think we're getting back to the game that has brought us success most of the year. There are always ways we can get better and improve, and we're going to push this group to try and get to another level." Penguins superstar captain Sidney Crosby has been on "another level" since he first picked up a hockey stick, and his 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in a dozen games since returning from core muscle surgery is the latest example. Toronto hasn't put its best foot forward with losses in five of its last eight games (3-4-1), but captain John Tavares sees the home-and-home set against Pittsburgh as a suitable litmus test for the Maple Leafs. "It's going to tell us a lot about our team and where we're at," Tavares said. "(They are as) proven a team as there is. They are playing really good hockey, have really found their game. They have a lot of experience. They're very driven. They play hard. It’s a crucial couple of games."

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, Sportsnet, TVAS

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (31-21-8): Zach Hyman has erupted for 12 points (six goals, six assists) since the All-Star break, with seven coming during his current six-game point streak (four goals, three assists). Fellow forward Mitch Marner has done well for himself since the break as well (two goals, 11 assists), boosting his team-leading total in assists (45) by setting up Hyman's third-period goal in Sunday's 5-2 setback in Buffalo. Auston Matthews, who has club-best totals in goals (42) and points (71), has eight and 14, respectively since the All-Star break.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (36-15-6): Pittsburgh's potent power play has scored in each of its last four games, with defenseman Kris Letang converting in each of the last two to elevate his total to a career high-tying six this season (2013-14). The 32-year-old's tally in the first period of Sunday's 5-1 romp over Detroit extended his point streak to five games (three goals, three assists). Bryan Rust, who also has six power-play goals on the season and a club-best 22 overall, collected three points (one goal, two assists) in Pittsburgh's 6-1 shellacking of Toronto on Nov. 16.

OVERTIME

1. Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin boosted his point total to 64 (22 goals, 42 assists) in 38 career games with Toronto after scoring and setting up a goal in the previous encounter.

2. Maple Leafs C Jason Spezza, who scored his team's lone goal against the Penguins, has recorded 14 of his 22 points on the road this season.

3. Toronto G Frederik Andersen owns a 14-5-0 record on the road this season.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Maple Leafs 3