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The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to follow up a 3-1 win in Anaheim with the second back-to-backs in Southern California, as they take on the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center on Thursday.
The Leafs ended a three-game losing streak with a solid effort against the Ducks, who were without centers Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler, and defensemen Cam Fowler and Kevin Bieksa.
Patrick Marleau, playing his second game at center, scored his 100th career game-winner 69 seconds into the third for Toronto and added an assist.
Connor Brown and Leo Komarov scored for the Leafs and Ron Hainsey added a pair of helpers, tying the veteran with defense partner Morgan Rielly for the club lead with nine assists.
“I really liked us in the first, I really liked us in the third. In the second, we got back to turning it over just like we have here lately and they got some momentum.… Leafs coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “I thought Freddie (Andersen) was solid and, obviously, (it’s) a big win. Any time you're struggling you need to find a way to win a game and get your confidence back and get rolling.…
Andersen struggled in October as he did last season, but has begun to turn things around on the road, keeping the Leafs in the game in San Jose and making 28 saves for his seventh victory of the year.
“We wanted to get back on track and I felt like we played, especially in the first and third, two really good periods.… Andersen said. “We didn't give them much. I think they came back in the second a little bit and got a little bit better but I think we stepped right back up again in the third.…
Connor Carrick saw his first action in 10 days on Wednesday and saw the least amount of ice time (13:29) of any Leafs defenseman. Paired with Jake Gardiner, Carrick was pushed around on a couple occasions by forechecking Anaheim forwards.
With Marleau playing up the middle and Tyler Bozak on the fourth line, Dominic Moore was scratched in favor of Josh Leivo, who played with Nazem Kadri and Komarov. Leivo did not register a shot in over 12 minutes of ice time and was on the ice for Ondrej Kase’s first period goal.
Roman Polak replaces Carrick against the Kings and Leivo will sit in favor of Kasperi Kapanen, who will play with Kadri and Komarov.
Toronto completes their season series against the Kings after winning 3-2 in their previous meeting at Air Canada Centre on October 23. Los Angeles has not lost at home and went 4-2 on a six-game road trip.
Curtis McElhinney will make his second start against Los Angeles. McElhinney is 1-0-0 with a 3.26 GAA and made 30 saves in a 6-3 win over Detroit. Jonathan Quick (7-2-1, 1.89 GAA, .942 Sv %) will make the start for the Kings.
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