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Maple Leafs look to halt skid vs. Predators

Jan 13, 2009 - 1:44 PM Nasvhille (19-20-3) at Toronto (16-20-6) 7:30 p.m. EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs hope a visit from another struggling team can help them snap out of a another losing skid.

Losers of at least three in a row for the sixth time this season, the Maple Leafs host the Nashville Predators in search of just their second win in six chances in 2009.

Since winning four of five games in mid-December, Toronto has posted a 2-7-0 record in its last nine, with both the offense and defense sharing equal amounts of the blame.

The Maple Leafs are averaging just 1.9 goals a game while allowing 4.2 per contest. Outside of a 3-1 win over Ottawa, goaltender Vesa Toskala is winless in his last six starts, surrendering at least three goals in each of those losses.

Special teams has also been an issue lately for Toronto, which lost to Philadelphia, 4-1, in its last contest on Saturday. It has allowed a power-play goal in seven consecutive games while converting just 12 percent (4-of-34) with the man advantage in its last nine contests.

Nashville missed out on its first three-game winning streak in over a month with a 3-1 at Chicago on Sunday. Dan Ellis made 30 saves in net but lost his third straight game.

Prior to an offensive outburst of nine goals during their two previous games, the Predators had not scored more than three goals since a 4-3 overtime win over Atlanta on November 28.