Sharks @ Maple Leafs

Who will WIN this matchup?

San Jose Sharks (12-8-5)

@ Toronto Maple Leafs (17-8-0)

Starting Goalies:

Aaron Dell (SJ): Projected

Frederik Andersen (TOR): Confirmed

Current odds:

San Jose Sharks: (+150)

Toronto Maple Leafs: (-170)

• The Toronto Maple Leafs have been battling for the best record in the Eastern Conference and could be getting a major boost with the imminent return of their most explosive scorer. After participating in his first full-contact practice in a month, Auston Matthews pronounced himself ready to play against the visiting San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night. Matthews still needs to be cleared to play by the team’s medical staff after missing 14 games due to a shoulder injury, so Toronto coach Mike Babcock is taking a wait-and-see approach with his star forward. “I’m not sure, we’ll know more tomorrow morning but we’ll see how he does,” Babcock told reporters Tuesday. “It wasn’t a long practice or anything but he looked fine out there today so we’ll see how he is.” Matthews is currently listed as probable to play Wednesday night. 

• San Jose has lost the first two on its five-game road trip, although it rallied for a pair of third-period goals to salvage a point in a 3-2 overtime defeat at red-hot Buffalo on Tuesday. The Sharks are 7-0-1 in their last eight visits to Toronto, but dropped a 5-3 decision to the Maple Leafs in San Jose on Nov. 15

• Captain Joe Pavelski scored twice in the final nine minutes of Tuesday’s defeat to give him eight goals and 12 points over the past eight games. Pavelski, who took over the team lead with 15 goals, also collected a goal and an assist in the loss to the Maple Leafs two weeks ago. Martin Jones won his first seven career starts against Toronto until dropping a 3-2 shootout decision in January, but he was in net against Buffalo on Tuesday and will likely yield to Aaron Dell after giving up at least three goals in 10 of his last 11 starts.

• Matthews, who had 10 goals at the time of his injury against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 27, said he was “bored to death” during his recovery, although Toronto managed to go 9-5-0 without him in the lineup. “I felt good,” Matthews told reporters. “Me in my mind, I feel ready to play tomorrow. I still have to talk to the medical guys but as far as I’m concerned, I feel pretty ready to go.” Forward Mitch Marner had three assists in Monday’s 4-2 victory over Boston on Monday and also had a three-point game against San Jose earlier this month.

• Maple Leafs C John Tavares has seven goals in the last 10 games, including one in the victory at San Jose.

• The Sharks have killed off 54 of their last 57 short-handed situations.

• Matthews was sidelined by injuries three times last season and scored in his first game back on each occasion.