If the Toronto Maple Leafs are to save face and snuff out their losing streak before it reaches double digits Tuesday night, it couldn’t come against a more fitting foe.
The last time the Leafs faced the Nashville Predators, at the Air Canada Centre in November, the NHL leaders thumped Toronto 9-2, chasing starter Jonathan Bernier in a blowout. (Bernier will again get the nod Tuesday.)
With Toronto coming off its most offensively anemic month in franchise history, averaging just 1.23 goals per game in January and losing nine straight, Predators assistant coach Phil Housley is quick to empathize, not criticize his opposition.
“When you get into those streaks, it’s one of those things where you may not get out of it right away, but if you play a certain way, eventually you get out and can string some wins together,” Housley told Brady & Walker on Sportsnet The Fan 590 Tuesday.
“We went through it last year — a tough stretch where we weren’t scoring enough, we weren’t giving our goaltender support.”
LISTEN: Housley talks Pekka Rinne, Filip Forsberg, Maple Leafs
Under new coach Peter Laviolette, the Predators, Housley explains, have placed a premium on maintaining possession in the opposition’s zone.
The result? The Preds, traditionally a club that struggled offensively, ranks sixth overall in goals scored (149) and sixth in five-on-five Corsi for (52.6%). By contrast, the visiting Leafs rank 27th in the same possession measurement (45.9%).
“But there’s a lot of talent over there, and we understand it’s going to be a difficult game for us,” Housley qualified.
“We need to focus on what we do best, and that’s playing good defence, moving the puck and getting on the forecheck. I really like the aggressive style of play we have going in the offensive zone.”
Nashville will attempt to become the first Western Conference club to win its 20th home game Tuesday, when they face-off against Toronto at 8 p.m. ET.
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