Toronto @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2018 ) Toronto 2, Carolina 5

The Carolina Hurricanes are expected to see the return of leading goal-scorer Micheal Ferland on Tuesday when the team hosts the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs. Ferland, who has been sidelined four games with a concussion, scored on the power play in what proved to be the winning tally in Carolina's 5-2 victory versus Toronto on Nov. 21.

The Hurricanes scored only five goals during a 1-3-1 stretch before locating their offense Friday in a 4-1 triumph at Anaheim to conclude a three-game road trip. "We're not going to score a lot of pretty goals. We've pretty much established that," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "We need to find other ways to get them. Obviously, getting to the net is paramount." Toronto's second-ranked offense has little issue scoring goals this season, however the Maple Leafs have been rather generous of late after surrendering 11 in the back-to-back losses that followed a five-game winning streak. "We haven't been good enough. That's a message sent. It should be received and now let's do something about it," Babcock said Monday, via TSN.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN4 (Toronto), FS Carolinas

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (20-9-1): Connor Brown will assume Zach Hyman's spot on the line with John Tavares (team-leading 18 goals) and Mitch Marner (club-best 34 assists, 40 points) with Hyman serving the first contest of a two-game suspension for his actions against defenseman Charlie McAvoy in Saturday's 6-3 setback to Boston. "I think he is going well (despite his stats)," Babcock said of the 24-year-old Brown, via TSN. "His job is to be real solid defensively and penalty kill for us and I actually think he's been good." Tavares, who is slated to play his 700th NHL game Tuesday, scored in the first encounter with Carolina.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (13-11-4): Scott Darling was summoned from Charlotte of the American Hockey League with fellow goaltender and former Maple Leaf Curtis McElhinney nursing a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old Darling has struggled to find his place with the Hurricanes since being acquired from Chicago, posting a 15-25-8 mark with a 3.17 goals-against average - including a 2-4-1 record this season. Captain Justin Williams and Sebastian Aho (team-leading 19 assists, 27 points) each scored versus the Ducks and also tallied in the first meeting with the Maple Leafs.

OVERTIME

1. Toronto C Auston Matthews has collected six goals and four assists during his five-game point streak since returning from a shoulder injury.

2. The Hurricanes have recorded at least a point in five of seven encounters (4-2-1) versus Atlantic Division adversaries.

3. Toronto D Morgan Rielly has notched an assist in each of the past five contests.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 5, Hurricanes 1