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Maple Leafs, Penguins square off in Toronto

Feb 26, 2011 - 3:49 PM (Sports Network) - The Toronto Maple Leafs remain contenders in the playoff race despite being one of the more active teams prior to Monday's trade deadline. The same holds true for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they try to overcome a rash of injuries.

The clubs take aim at two big points this evening at Air Canada Centre, where the rolling Maple Leafs host a Penguins club that has lost a season-worst four in a row.

Though they come into play just six points out of a playoff spot, the Maple Leafs have already completed trades that have sent defensemen Tomas Kaberle and Francois Beauchemin, as well as forward Kris Versteeg, out of town for mostly draft picks and prospects. The players still left have surged on, going 8-2-2 in February while winning four of their last five overall.

Things haven't been much easier for the Penguins despite their current position of fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Pittsburgh has already lost forward Evgeni Malkin for the season due to a knee injury and remains without superstar Sidney Crosby because of a concussion.

Other injuries to players such as Mark Letestu, Chris Kunitz, and Brooks Orpik have forced the Pens to make some roster moves of their own, acquiring the likes of forwards Alexei Kovalev and James Neal, and defenseman Matt Niskanen over the last few days in two separate deals.

One player who has responded for the Maple Leafs is Phil Kessel, who has six goals in five contests since a 14-game goal drought. The forward scored twice and had a season-high four points in Thursday's 5-4 win at Montreal.

"It's a big win for us after being shutout in Montreal the past two times," said Kessel. "A big win with 21 games left. This keeps us right in it. Our lines played good again and I hope we can keep this going."

Tyler Bozak had two goals and an assist, defenseman Brett Lebda scored and had a helper, while James Reimer stopped 31 shots in net.

Toronto takes aim at a third straight win tonight, but has lost four of its last six versus the Penguins. The two teams have split a pair of games in Pittsburgh this season, including a 5-2 Penguins win in the last meeting on Dec. 8. That Pens squad was still being led by Crosby, who had two goals to extend what ended up being a 25-game point streak.

The Maple Leafs and Pens, who have won two straight at ACC, will get a good look at each other's post-trade deadline roster as they wrap their season set on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh kicked off a five-game road trip on Friday night with a 4-1 loss to Carolina. Pascal Dupuis had the lone goal, just the Penguins' fifth during their four-game slide.

Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled in the second period after giving up three goals on 11 shots. Brent Johnson made nine stops in relief, while Kovalev kicked off his second tour of duty with the Pens by logging four penalty minutes without a shot.

"It was a slow start, we took too many penalties. We gave them opportunities to put the game away, which they did, and it's tough to come back," said Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma.

Pittsburgh, which is just four points up on fifth-place Washington in the Eastern Conference, is just 2-6-2 in its last 10 and hasn't lost five in a row since Dec. 27-Jan. 3 of last season.