Carolina @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 11, 2018 ) Toronto 4, Carolina 1

Coach Rod Brind'Amour was pretty direct when discussing what he feels is required for the Carolina Hurricanes to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. "We've got to win our next three (games)," said Brind'Amour, who will look to see if his team can take the first step in backing up his words on Tuesday when it visits the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I learned a long time ago we're not getting help. We're going to have to win our games, take care of our business and don't rely on anyone else," Brind'Amour told reporters. Carolina has dropped three of its last four following Sunday's 3-1 setback at Pittsburgh to fall into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Columbus and one ahead of Montreal. Toronto officially punched its ticket to the postseason and moved within four points of second-place Boston in the Atlantic Division on Monday as John Tavares burned his former team with a goal in the third period of a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders. The 28-year-old set a career high in points (87) and upped his personal-best goal total to 46 on the season, with one coming in both the Maple Leafs' 5-2 setback at Carolina on Nov. 21 and a 4-1 victory over the Hurricanes on Dec. 11 in Toronto.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TVA, FS Carolinas, TSN4 (Toronto)

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (43-29-7): Jaccob Slavin wasn't interested in individual success on Sunday despite scoring in his second straight game by converting on the power play with just under eight minutes remaining in the third period. "We've got to flush it ... and come back Tuesday ready to play," the 24-year-old Slavin told reporters. "Only a couple games left. Nothing to save it for. We've got to get to the playoffs." Fellow defenseman Calvin de Haan was unable to finish that contest due to an upper-body injury, forcing Carolina to reach out to Charlotte of the American Hockey League on Monday to recall Haydn Fleury on an emergency basis.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (46-26-7): Mitch Marner boosted his team-leading totals in assists (67) and points (92) after making a nifty move to create space in the offensive zone before setting up Tavares' tally. While Marner has six assists in his last five games, Connor Brown set up defenseman Calle Rosen's first career NHL goal to give him four points (two goals, two assists) in his last three contests. The 25-year-old Brown has recorded 14 (three goals, 11 assists) of his 29 points versus Metropolitan Division foes this season, although none against the Hurricanes.

OVERTIME

1. Carolina LW Sebastian Aho, who leads the team in goals (30) and points (82), is mired in an 11-game goal drought.

2. Toronto has registered at least 35 shots on goal in nine of its last 10 games.

3. Hurricanes G Curtis McElhinney flustered his former team to the tune of turning aside 30 shots in the win over the Maple Leafs on Nov. 21.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Maple Leafs 2