Toronto @ Columbus preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 23, 2018 ) Toronto 2, Columbus 4

The high-powered Toronto Maple Leafs hope to pick up where they left off prior to the holiday break when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday. Toronto is riding a four-game winning streak during which it has scored a total of 23 goals and at least five in each triumph.

Mitch Marner, who leads the Maple Leafs with 50 points, was kept off the scoresheet in Sunday's 5-4 overtime win over Detroit after collecting six goals and three assists during a four-game point streak. John Tavares has notched two points in each contest (four goals, four assists overall) during Toronto's string of wins and tallied in four of his last five games. Columbus enters with a season-high five-game winning streak and points in seven straight (6-0-1) after rallying for a 4-3 overtime triumph against the Rangers in New York on Thursday. Defenseman Zach Werenski forged a tie with 2:20 remaining in the third period and Pierre-Luc Dubois ended his 10-game goal-scoring drought 31 seconds into the extra session for the Blue Jackets, who have allowed a total of four goals during their 3-0-1 run at home.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto), FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (25-10-2): Tavares, who tops the club with 24 goals, hasn't gone two games without a tally since Dec. 1 and 4 - recording seven over his last nine contests to get within four of the 300 plateau. The 28-year-old has been held without a point in back-to-back games only once during his first season with Toronto (Oct. 18 and 20). Defenseman Morgan Rielly has collected three goals and six assists during the team's winning streak and notched at least one point in 11 of his last 12 contests (four goals, 13 assists).

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (22-12-3): Artemi Panarin recorded an assist Thursday, giving him six points in his last three games, but remained one goal shy of 100 for his career. Cam Atkinson, who leads the team with 23 goals, failed to score against the Rangers after netting four during a three-game streak. The 29-year-old tops Columbus with five power-play goals and is tied with Panarin for first on the club with five game-winners.

OVERTIME

1. Maple Leafs C Auston Matthews has registered three goals and four assists during the team's winning streak.

2. Columbus RW Oliver Bjorkstrand has tallied in back-to-back contests after recording one goal in his previous 15 games.

3. Rielly entered Thursday with a share of the lead in assists among NHL defensemen with 31.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 5, Blue Jackets 2