Pittsburgh @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 18, 2020 ) Toronto 2, Pittsburgh 5

The Pittsburgh Penguins picked up speed in December before finding another gear after superstar captain Sidney Crosby returned from his two-month absence following core muscle surgery. Crosby and the Penguins look to continue their respective torrid stretches on Thursday in the back end of a home-and-home series with the host Toronto Maple Leafs.

Crosby recorded his 34th career NHL game with at least four points after scoring a goal and setting up three others in Pittsburgh's 5-2 trouncing of visiting Toronto on Tuesday. "We always talk as a coaching staff, Sid plays chess when some of the other guys are playing checkers," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of the two-time Hart Trophy recipient, who has 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 13 games since his return. While Pittsburgh sports a 12-3-1 record in its last 16 contests, Toronto has surrendered 33 goals en route to dropping six of its last nine (3-5-1). "It's obviously frustrating." Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews said. "We've got 20-plus games left, obviously. We need to have more urgency in our game. Come in on time. Have to start playing some good hockey here and really figure it out in this locker room going forward."

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, TVAS, TSN4

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (37-15-6): Pittsburgh's power play has packed a punch since the return of Crosby, as it went 3-for-3 with the man advantage on Tuesday to improve to 13-for-42 in the last 13 games. Bryan Rust netted the first power-play goal to open the scoring midway into the first period and set up Jason Zucker's man-advantage tally in the second. The 27-year-old Rust finished with a goal and two assists in that contest, matching his stat line in the Penguins' 6-1 romp over Toronto on Nov. 16.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (31-22-8): Matthews padded his career-high goal total (43) by converting in the second period on Tuesday, marking his ninth tally in the dozen games since the All-Star break. Defenseman Jake Muzzin extended his point streak to three games (one goal, two assists) after setting up Matthews' goal, but the 30-year-old was in no mood to celebrate after the lopsided loss. "Everyone's got to take a look in the mirror and we have to be better. That's unacceptable," Muzzin said. "We've got to find the urgency, the passion, the love of the game, the love to compete for each other. All that needs to come. I don't know why it's not there."

OVERTIME

1. Toronto F Andreas Johnsson is expected to be sidelined for six months after undergoing knee surgery on Wednesday.

2. Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin, who sat out Tuesday's game with an illness, traveled with the team and is hopeful to play on Thursday.

3. The Maple Leafs acquired Denis Malgin from Florida on Wednesday in exchange for fellow F Mason Marchment.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Maple Leafs 2