Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators Picks and Predictions November 12th 2024

Brady Tkachuk and Senators Look to Cool Off Rival Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to complete a perfect sweep of their four-game homestand as they prepare to face their division rivals, the Ottawa Senators, on Tuesday night. But with Auston Matthews’ status still up in the air, and a fired-up Senators squad eager to build momentum, this matchup promises plenty of fireworks.

Leafs Managing Without Matthews

The Leafs have been without superstar Auston Matthews for the last three games due to an upper-body injury. Matthews, who led the league with 69 goals last season, has been listed as day-to-day but remains doubtful for Tuesday’s game despite skating over the weekend.

General manager Brad Treliving addressed Matthews’ situation, saying, “We want to make sure we get ahead of it and hopefully get it behind us once and for all.”

Toronto will also be missing Max Pacioretty, who was placed on injured reserve after leaving Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens with a lower-body injury. Pacioretty is considered week-to-week.

Despite the absences, the Leafs are still firing on all cylinders. Mitchell Marner extended his point streak to eight games with a goal and an assist against Montreal, while defenseman Morgan Rielly joined the ranks of Leafs legends Borje Salming and Tomas Kaberle by recording his 400th career assist.

Leafs’ Power Play Heating Up

Toronto’s power play, which started the season with a sluggish 4-for-40 performance, has turned a corner. The Leafs have now gone 11-for-53, including a 2-for-4 showing in their latest game against the Canadiens.

Coach Craig Berube praised the team’s disciplined play, saying, “I thought we checked extremely well for two periods. The power play was good again. Clean pretty much with penalties and I thought we played a real smart game.”

Goaltender Joseph Woll was a standout, making crucial saves as Montreal pushed hard in the third period. With Matthews and Pacioretty out, the Leafs will rely heavily on players like Marner, William Nylander, and Max Domi, who took maintenance days on Monday but are expected to play against Ottawa.

Senators Look to Build Off Overtime Win

The Senators, meanwhile, are coming off a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the Boston Bruins, where captain Brady Tkachuk scored just 21 seconds into OT. It was a statement victory for Ottawa, who have struggled on the road this season with a 2-5-0 record.

Tkachuk, who recorded 12 shots on goal in that game, acknowledged that he’s been focused on making the most of every scoring opportunity. “The last two games for myself, I haven’t liked the way I’ve been playing with the puck,” Tkachuk said. “I have to start utilizing my shot more.”

Coach Travis Green was pleased with his team’s performance, praising their consistency and effort. “We’ve challenged our guys the last couple days to play more consistent, play faster, play harder, and they responded with a really good game for 60 minutes.”

Goaltender Linus Ullmark, who made 14 saves in the win over Boston, emphasized the importance of maintaining that level of play: “It’s a statement game, so to speak. We have to learn this is the sort of game we have to play every night.”

Injury Updates for the Senators

The Senators received a boost on the injury front as Shane Pinto, who has missed the last eight games with an undisclosed injury, confirmed he’ll be ready to return on Tuesday. His presence should bolster Ottawa’s lineup as they look to stay competitive against a high-powered Leafs offense.

Key Matchup: Leafs’ Offense vs. Senators’ Grit

While the Leafs have been rolling at home, Ottawa is coming in with something to prove. Toronto’s improved power play and depth scoring will face a tough test against a Senators team looking to build off their gritty win against the Bruins.

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The game could hinge on whether Toronto can maintain their offensive firepower without Matthews, and whether Ottawa can carry their newfound consistency into a hostile environment. With Tkachuk leading the charge for the Sens and Marner in top form for the Leafs, fans can expect a high-energy, hard-fought battle.

Will the Leafs extend their winning streak at home, or will the Senators pull off an upset and put the brakes on Toronto’s momentum? This clash of Atlantic Division rivals is set to be an exciting showdown.