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Maple Leafs face Predators, look for sixth straight win

Feb 8, 2007 - 3:50 PM Toronto (27-21-6) at Nashville (37-15-3) 8:00 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Andrew Raycroft and the Toronto Maple Leafs will be hard-pressed to extend their longest winning streak of the season.

The red-hot Maple Leafs shoot for their sixth straight win Thursday when they visit the Nashville Predators.

Despite winning the first four contests of their five-game road swing, Toronto remains on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff race, sitting in ninth place.

On Thursday, the Maple Leafs aim to extend their longest winning streak since from a six-game run from December 23, 2005-January 2, 2006.

Thanks to another stellar performance from Raycroft, Toronto held on for a 2-1 triumph at St. Louis on Tuesday.

The reigning NHL First Star of the Week, Raycroft made 19 saves. Alex Steen and Alexei Ponikarovsky each tallied for the Maple Leafs, who have won seven of their last eight contests.

However, Toronto will have a hard time extending its run against the Predators, who look for their franchise-record eighth straight home win.

But Nashville has struggled to losses in three of its last four games, including Tuesday's 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh.

These teams have not met since January 6, 2004, when the Maple Leafs posted a 2-1 victory.