Toronto @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2019 ) Los Angeles 1, Toronto 3

The Toronto Maple Leafs struggled to ignite an offense that was prevalent during their three-game winning streak, resulting in a loss to begin their three-game trek through California. The Maple Leafs look for a better showing on Thursday when they visit the Los Angeles Kings, who are opening a nine-game homestand.

Auston Matthews continued his torrid display by scoring in his third consecutive contest and setting up Mitch Marner's goal later in the second period before the offense went limp in Toronto's 5-2 setback at San Jose on Tuesday. "I think they just kept coming and coming and a lot of times, we just had no pushback. Tough to get stuff going that way," said Matthews, who joins Marner is carrying four-game point streaks into Thursday's tilt. Matthews collected a goal and an assist in Toronto's 3-1 victory over Los Angeles on Nov. 5, with captain Anze Kopitar setting up Alex Iafallo on the power play for the Kings' lone tally. Kopitar, who leads the team in goals (20) and assists (39), scored twice in the first period as Los Angeles won its third in a row with a 4-1 victory versus Vegas on Sunday.

TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: FS West, Sportsnet Ontario

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (35-24-8): Defenseman Martin Marincin has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in his last six games after failing to dent the scoresheet in the previous 18. Fellow defenseman Rasmus Sandin is expected to draw back into the lineup after working as the quarterback on the team's second power-play unit during Wednesday's practice. Marincin and Sandin will play in front of Frederik Andersen, who sports an 8-1-2 career mark versus Los Angeles with a 2.21 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.

ABOUT THE KINGS (25-35-6): While a victory on Thursday won't do much in the standings for Los Angeles, it will go along way in the eyes of defenseman Drew Doughty. "Just want to beat them, obviously, especially now that those three guys (former Kings Jake Muzzin, goaltender Jack Campbell, Clifford) are on that team, I want to beat them even more," the 30-year-old Doughty said. "Having bragging rights over the summer and whatnot." Doughty had a pair of assists versus Vegas and resides one point shy of 500 for his career.

OVERTIME

1. Marner has scored 12 of his 16 goals on the road this season.

2. Kopitar has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his last nine contests.

3. Maple Leafs LW Kyle Clifford has just one goal and two assists in 13 games since being acquired from Los Angeles last month.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 4, Kings 2