Music: {allcanada} DEVILS (9-12-4) at MAPLE LEAFS (13-8-3)

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

{allcanada} DEVILS (9-12-4) at MAPLE LEAFS (13-8-3)

Wrapped In Red - Kelly Clarkson / Eloise: Little Miss Christmas

Thursday, December 4, 2014

7:30 PM ET

DEVILS (9-12-4) at MAPLE LEAFS (13-8-3)

TV: MSG, TSN4

Season series: The Toronto Maple Leafs won two of three from the New Jersey Devils last season, the home team prevailing each time. Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel each scored twice to lead the Maple Leafs. The Devils are 0-2-2 in their past four trips to Air Canada Centre since a 4-3 overtime win on Feb. 21, 2012.

Devils team scope: Center Travis Zajac was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week and New Jersey's injury woes mounted Tuesday when forwards Jaromir Jagr (head), Patrik Elias (groin) and Stephen Gionta (foot) all left a 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Newly signed Scott Gomez ended up playing more than 22 minutes in his season debut. The Devils have lost five in a row and seven of eight (1-5-2). Forward Michael Ryder, a healthy scratch against the Penguins, could reenter the lineup. Coach Peter DeBoer told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday he was concerned with the injury to Jagr, who was not at the practice rink in Etobicoke, Ontario. Gionta and Elias were there receiving treatment. "It's nothing major," Elias told NJ Advance Media about his injury. "I went to skate and it tightened up on me. It's a little bit better today, but I haven't skated."

Maple Leafs team scope: Enjoying a stretch in which it plays 11 of 13 on home ice between Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, Toronto has points in five straight (4-0-1) since starting with a 9-2 loss to the Nashville Predators. Forwards Leo Komarov and Daniel Winnik were sent home from practice Wednesday. Komarov sat out a 5-3 win against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday after he was injured in the previous game against the Washington Capitals. Winnik had a maintenance day. Coach Randy Carlyle outlined his plan for playing the Devils. "We respect the opposition and we know that Jersey historically has been a strong neutral-ice hockey club. They want to play tight to the vest, they want to keep the shots down," he said in video posted on the team website. "… So our challenges will be that we do not want to be selfish and turn the puck over in the neutral ice and allow them to transition. We want to play an up-tempo game and move the puck effectively."

Team Stats