PNC ARENA
PUCK DROP: Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Skinnervs. Kadri
If Leafs centre Nazem Kadri is matched up against Carolina’s Jeff Skinner, it will be a solid challenge. Skinner, one of the better skaters in the Eastern Conference, scored Carolina’s lone goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to Colorado Friday. That marked his team-leading 19th goal of the season. Kadri has turned heads with his two-way work this season, an asset that will only become more valuable as the Leafs drive for the playoffs.
NEED TO KNOW
Carolina leads the league in penalty killing, a tremendous accomplishment for a team that, like the Leafs, is rebuilding with youth. The under-25 core includes Skinner, Teuvo Teravainen and teenager Sebastian Aho up front, and Noah Hanifin, Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce and Justin Faulk on the blue line . . . Carolina, which last made the playoffs in 2009, trailed the Leafs by seven points in the wild-card standings entering Saturday . . . Cam Ward will likely start in goal for the Hurricanes. Ward, who turns 33 at the end of the month, won a Stanley Cup as a rookie, and has been the backbone of the club since then. He has been in goal for 21 of the team’s 24 wins this season.
UP NEXT
Tuesday, vs. Winnipeg Jets, 7:30 p.m.
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