Maple Leafs-Devils: Leafs Head to Jersey for Sunday Matinee

Three is a streak.  Four or five could be considered hot. 

And the fourth straight win is exactly what the Toronto Maple Leafs will go for when they head into New Jersey in just a few hours time to take on the Devils.  With the NFL's New York Giants playing the NFC Championship at around 6 P.M, I would be willing to go out on a limb and say this game will be a tough sell, in terms of attendance, and TV ratings in the Garden State.

The Leafs enter today's contest in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.  After their most recent resurgence they have 46 points and sit just five points out the eighth and final playoff spot.  Jersey meanwhile comes into this game in 6th place with 55 points.  

New Jersey last played Friday night when they dropped a tough 2-1 decision to the Florida Panthers.  Travis Zajac had the lone goal for the Devils.

The Leafs played last night in Toronto, downing their QEW rivals the Buffalo Sabres 4-2.  Antropov, Steen, Ponikarovsky, and Blake tallied for Toronto, while Vesa Toskala got the win.

It is expected today that New Jersey will start sure Hall Of Famer Martin Brodeur, while the Maple Leafs will counter with Andrew Raycroft.  Toskala was solid the last two games against Buffalo and Boston, however coming off of a groin injury it appears Maple Leafs head coach Paul Maurice is reluctant to start the Finnish netminder with such a quick turn around. 

Brodeur has appeared in 41 games for the Devils this season, and brings a record of 24-15-2 into today's contest.

Raycroft has not been impressive, though he hasn't seen a lot of action for the Leafs this season.  He brings his 2-7-4 record into the Prudential Center this afternoon.  Of his two wins this season, one was a shutout.  Brodeur meanwhile enters today's match up with four.

The Maple Leafs would like to keep this streak alive and get some momentum going into the All Star Break.  The Leafs finish the week with a home and home against the Washington Capitals Wednesday and Thursday, before hitting the All Star Break where they will be off until Tuesday, when they take on the St. Louis Blues.

Defenceman Tomas Kaberle will represent the Toronto Maple Leafs at the All Star Game.  The Skills competition of the weekend goes this Saturday night, while the game will take place next Sunday afternoon.