Forward David Clarkson will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the New York Rangers.

Viewers in the Maple Leafs region can watch the game live on TSN4 starting at 7pm et/4pm pt or listen on TSN Radio 1050 Toronto.

James Reimer will get his third start in a row in goal for Toronto.

The Maple Leafs' 0-10-1 skid came to an end with Saturday's 5-1 home win over Edmonton, and Toronto (23-27-4) will try for consecutive victories for the first time since winning six straight Dec. 6-16.

"It's important to see that there's results," said interim coach Peter Horachek, whose team had scored a goal per game on the losing streak. "I kept telling them that the results are going to come. You've just got to keep the process of doing things the right way."

Since the December success, Toronto is 4-18-1 and has fallen 13 points back of Boston for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. It's a race the Maple Leafs were very much a part of, which is discouraging to look back on.

"The scenarios don't look very good right now," forward Joffrey Lupul told the team's official website. "All we can do is focus on tomorrow's game and after that, move on."

Predating the ups and downs was some success against New York (30-16-5) with 11 goals in a pair of wins. Phil Kessel scored in both and has six goals and four assists in his last seven games in the series.

The Rangers, part of the discussion for the top spot in the East with 65 points and games in hand against each of the teams they trail, are in danger of dropping three straight for the third time this season after Sunday's 3-2 overtime home loss to Dallas.

John Moore is back in on defence and Matt Hunwick will be scratched.

Rick Nash, who scored in both games against Toronto, didn't score after managing five goals in the previous four games, and he and fellow first-line forwards Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis spent part of the second period benched.

"Rick hasn't had very many games this year where he's been off," coach Alain Vigneault said. "Sometimes it happens. At that time, we had no puck possession. We were spending almost the total time in our own end."

New York is also facing a potential three-game road skid for the first time this season as it begins a four-game trip, though it's won 19 of 26 overall with 1.92 goals against per game.

The loss to the Stars was New York's third contest without starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who is expected to be out at least three weeks with a vascular injury.

Cam Talbot is 1-1-1 with a 2.68 goals-against average in those games and 2-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA in four against Toronto, including a 5-4 road loss Nov. 8. He's never started four straight games but has his coach's confidence.

"He gives us a chance to win every game," Vigneault said. "He's doing what a goaltender is supposed to."

Reimer filled in for Jonathan Bernier (illness) against Edmonton. Reimer was 0-8-0 with a 3.19 GAA in his previous 11 appearances.

He was in goal for a 6-3 win in New York on Oct. 12.

Rangers (65PTS) at Maple Leafs (50PTS)

TOR is 2-0-0 vs NYR this season, 11GF
TOR has won 3 straight vs NYR
TOR (23-27-4):
won last game, have not won back to back games last 23 games
Kessel (1G, 1A) past 2 games, 2G, 2A vs NYR this season
NYR (30-16-5):
0-1-1 past 2 games, both by a score of 3-2, 2/5 on PP
Zuccarello (1G, 5A) 5 game PT streak

Maple Leafs Projected Lines

Forwards

van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Kessel
Winnik-Kadri-Santorelli
Komarov-Holland-Lupul
Booth-Smith-Panik

Defence

Gardiner-Franson
Rielly-Polak
Robidas-Holzer

 

Goalie

Reimer