Toronto @ San Jose preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 25, 2019 ) San Jose 1, Toronto 4

The Toronto Maple Leafs aim to extend a pair of streaks on Tuesday when they begin a trek through California against the San Jose Sharks. The Maple Leafs, who have won four in a row against the Sharks, have erupted for 13 goals during their current three-game winning streak.

Auston Matthews, who scored in Toronto's 4-1 win over San Jose on Oct. 25, also tallied in both Thursday's 5-3 triumph at Florida and a 4-2 victory versus Vancouver two nights later to boost his career-best totals in goals (45) and points (77). Captain John Tavares carries a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) into Tuesday's tilt for the Maple Leafs, who are nursing a five-point edge over Florida for third place in the Atlantic Division. San Jose has answered a five-game skid by winning the first two contests of its six-game homestand, including a 5-0 victory over slumping Pittsburgh on Saturday. "(I) thought we played great from start to finish and it was our best game from start to finish in some time," said Martin Jones, who has recorded shutouts in two of his past five contests.

TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS California, Sportsnet Ontario

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (35-23-8): Like Tavares, Zach Hyman has also scored in back-to-back games to match last season's career-high goal total of 23. "Yeah, they're not perfect games, for sure, but they are all wins, and they are all games where we're playing against really good opponents and we have to battle in them and really earn our wins," the 27-year-old Hyman said of the winning streak. Mitch Marner, who sports a three-game assist streak, set up two goals in the previous encounter with San Jose and leads the team with 49 assists.

ABOUT THE SHARKS (28-33-4): Evander Kane became the fifth member of the 2009 NHL Draft class to reach the 450-point plateau after scoring his team-leading 22nd goal in the first period on Saturday. The 28-year-old also set up captain Logan Couture's tally in the third period to register his second straight multi-point performances after being held off the scoresheet in 10 of his previous 12 games. Fellow forward Melker Karlsson is expected to return following a four-game absence due to a lower-body injury, coach Bob Boughner said Monday.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose RW Marcus Sorensen has one goal and three assists during his three-game point streak.

2. Toronto Ds Morgan Rielly (foot) and Cody Cedi (ankle) are on pace to return to the lineup next week, coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters Monday.

3. Sharks D Jacob Middleton is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday.

PREDICTION: Sharks 3, Maple Leafs 2