Toronto @ Vegas preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 6, 2018 ) Vegas 1, Toronto 3

The Toronto Maple Leafs located their missing power play in their last outing, scoring three times in a 1:49 span in the second period after going 1-for-18 in the previous six contests. The Maple Leafs hope their success with the man advantage travels well as the team makes its fourth stop of a six-game road trip versus the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

"It was our power play," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said following Tuesday's 5-2 victory over Colorado. "... When you don't do good things, good things don't happen. But when you start to do good things, you get competitive." Toronto has been more than competitive with a 6-1-1 mark in its last eight games to nurse a one-point edge over third-place Boston in the Atlantic Division. While Vegas' third-place standing in the Pacific Division appears comfortable, coach Gerard Gallant made certain that his charges weren't after blasting his team for its "soft game" in Tuesday's 5-2 setback against Arizona. The Golden Knights have dropped four contests in a row at home and have scored just 17 goals en route to losing six of their last eight overall.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains (Vegas)

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (35-18-3): Nazem Kadri joined Kasperi Kapanen with two goals against the Avalanche, with each netting one on the power play. "Like I said earlier, all being on the same page. That makes a big difference," the 28-year-old Kadri said of what clicked for the team with the man advantage. "Trying to make little adjustments, talking amongst the five of us and trying to draw up little plays that possibly could work. That was the difference." John Tavares highlighted his fourth multi-point performance in five outings with a one-touch pass to Auston Matthews, whose power-play tally accounted for his 99th career goal.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (31-23-4): Vegas' sputtering offense hasn't been an issue for Paul Stastny, who has recorded 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in his last 19 games. Cody Eakin set up Brandon Pirri's goal against the Coyotes to give him three points (two goals, one assist) in his last four contests heading into the tilt versus Toronto, against which he scored in a 3-1 setback on Nov. 6. Speaking of Pirri, he has collected 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 11 home games for Vegas.

OVERTIME

1. Vegas RW Alex Tuch, who leads the team in assists (24) and points (40), has been held off the scoresheet in six straight games.

2. Maple Leafs G Frederik Andersen, who made 36 saves in his last meeting versus the Golden Knights, has turned aside 133 of 143 shots during his four-start winning streak.

3. Vegas D Deryk Engelland is slated to play in his 600th career game on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 3, Maple Leafs 2