The Toronto Maple Leafs have produced their torrid stretch while getting the benefit of a bevy of home games.

That's about to change, but tonight's visit to the woeful Carolina Hurricanes could make the transition to a road-heavy slate a little easier. It may also lead to the Maple Leafs securing their longest win streak in 10 seasons.

Viewers in the Maple Leafs region can watch the game live on TSN4 at 7pm et, or listen to the game on TSN Radio 1050 Toronto with coverage starting at 6:30pm et.

Toronto (19-9-3) has played just twice on the road while going 10-1-1 since Nov. 20 and had one game away from home while winning eight of nine. The Maple Leafs are set to play eight of nine and 17 of their next 22 on the road.

Toronto is 2-2-2 in its last six games there compared with a 9-1-0 home record since Nov. 20. In their next road contest, the Maple Leafs will try for their first seven-game win streak since taking eight in a row Nov. 22-Dec. 9, 2003.

"Our schedule is tough for the next month and a half here," forward Phil Kessel said. "We've just got to play good team hockey, keep doing the little things and we'll be all right."

Toronto halted Anaheim's seven-game win streak with a 6-2 victory Tuesday. Jonathan Bernier made 40 saves and Kessel had two goals in the final five minutes, giving him six in the past eight games and 11 points in the last nine.

James van Riemsdyk had a pair of assists and also has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in the past nine contests.

The Maple Leafs will go from facing the team with the most points in the league to the team with the fewest. The Hurricanes (8-19-3) have been outscored 18-6 in losing six straight, all in regulation, and have dropped 13 of 16.

"It's a tough league to win in when you're scoring one goal a game," forward Jeff Skinner said. "We haven't been executing in the offensive end to earn a win."

Carolina has also struggled at the other end of the ice lately, allowing nine goals in the past two games. The latest was a 4-1 defeat in Montreal on Tuesday, and the four goals allowed were the most for Cam Ward in seven games.

The Hurricanes have lost six of seven at home and will be trying to avoid their first four-game skid there since an 0-3-2 one Oct. 11-Nov. 1, 2013. Carolina had an 0-6-2 overall start to this season.

The Hurricanes won two of three meetings with Toronto last season, and a 6-1 rout Jan. 9 was their fourth consecutive home victory in the series.

Carolina won't have Jordan Staal, who has five goals and five assists in his last seven games against Toronto, because he's still recovering from a broken right leg. Skinner has two goals and nine assists in his past eight matchups, but he's managed just two goals and two assists in his last 10 games.

Kessel scored twice in a 5-2 victory over Carolina on Dec. 29 but has been held without a point in five of his last seven matchups.

 

Projected Maple Leafs Lines:

Forwards:

van Riemsdyk – Bozak – Kessel

Winnik – Kadri – Santorelli

Lupul – Holland – Clarkson

Booth – Smith - Panik

Defence:

Phaneuf – Franson

Gardiner – Holzer

Rielly – Robidas

Goalie:

Bernier

 

Projected Hurricanes Lines:

Forwards:

Gerbe – E. Staal - Terry
Skinner - Rask - Lindholm
Boychuk – Nash - Dwyer
Maline - McClement - Shugg

Defence:

Sekera - Faulk
Harrison - Hainsey
Gleason - Jordan

Goalie:

Ward

 

Game Notes:

CAR was 2-1-0 vs TOR last season

CAR has won 4 straight at home vs TOR

Carolina:

lost 6 straight games, 1GF in each game

1-6-0 past 7 at home, 2GF or less in each of the games, 3/21 on PP

E Staal (1G, 0A) past 7 games

Skinner (2A) past 2 games

Toronto:

Won 6 straight, last won 7 straight Nov 22-Dec 6/03 (8 in a row)

10-1-1 past 12 games, 4.1GF/G highest in NHL in that span

2-1-1 past 4 road games, 0/14 on PP

Won 12 games by 3 or more goals (most in NHL)

14-0-0 when scoring first