Game 18 Preview: Avs @ Maple Leafs

In the words of Will Ferrell, "We're going Streaking!"

After three games of their seven game road trip, the Avalanche have won three games and have strung together their first streak of victories on the year. Not only have the Avs won though, they have put together some impressive wins against good opponents, including a huge 6-1 victory over the league's best team, the Montreal Canadiens last game. Yes, the Avs are riding high, and so are two of the team's best young stars, Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon. Since being paired together on the Avs' top line, the duo has started racking up the points. Saturday night, both players and their new linemate, Mikhail Grigorenko notched three points. The top line will hope to continue their furious pace against Maple Leafs Tuesday night.

Expected to be among the worst teams in the league this season, the Maple Leafs sit dead last in the NHL in wins. Not everything has been awful for the Leafs, however, as they transition into a new rebuilding age under coach Mike Babcock. The team has kept their competition close in the vast majority of their games, even losses. The most noticeable downfall for the Leafs appears to be their lack of forward depth. As is the case with most rebuilding teams, depth can be hard to come by when the organization has made the choice to turn towards the future. Aside from their top two lines, goal scoring has been nearly absent from the Leafs' forwards, as the team's top two points scorers are both defensemen. Despite the offensive short comings, look for the Leafs to keep things close behind their hot goaltender, James Reimer, who comes in riding a three game winning streak and the NHL's third star of the week honors.

LINES

Grigorenko-MacKinnon-Duchene

Comeau-Soderberg-Iginla

McLeod-Mitchell-Everberg

Martinsen-Street-Skille

Beauchemin-Johnson

Holden-Barrie

Gormley-Guenin

Berra

Pickard

NOTES

- With four goals and eight points last week, Matt Duchene took home the NHL's first star of the week honors.

- The Avs claimed forward Chris Wagner off waivers from the Ducks on Sunday. Unless a line-up change comes, he figures to be the only non-injury or suspension (Landeskog) scratch for the Avalanche Tuesday night.

- Nathan MacKinnon sits alone at number seven in NHL scoring after Saturday's spotlight performance.

GAME INFO

Game time: 5:30pm MT

TV: ALT2, TVAS