Ducks at Maple Leafs preview

DUCKS (21-22-9) at MAPLE LEAFS (31-17-3)
7 p.m. ET; TSN4, PRIME, NHL.TV

Kesler, a 33-year-old center who has six points (four goals, two assists) in 44 games this season, missed five games with a hamstring injury.
The Ducks have lost three straight while being outscored 17-4 and are 2-11-4 in their past 17 games since Dec. 18. Goalie John Gibson , who allowed six goals on 14 shots in a 9-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, is expected to start
Goalie Frederik Andersen is likely to start for the Maple Leafs, who are 3-4-1 in their past eight games.

Players to watch

Ducks forward Daniel Sprong has four points (three goals, one assist) in his past four games.
Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has scored in three straight games.

They said it

"Kesler is a very competitive guy. If there is one player in that dressing room that we don't have to worry about ever coming out and being in a compete mode, he takes the challenge personally, whoever he is going to play against. His challenge is to outplay that player he's playing across from and that's a huge step for our hockey club." -- Ducks coach Randy Carlyle
"Not to pay attention to that, that doesn't mean anything. You've got to come focused on what you can do and make sure you prepare your way just like any other night. You have to come and do your job and make sure you're ready to go." -- Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen on the Ducks

Ducks projected lineup

Rickard Rakell -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Corey Perry
Devin Shore -- Adam Henrique -- Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie -- Ryan Kesler -- Daniel Sprong
Derek Grant -- Carter Rowney -- Patrick Eaves
Hampus Lindholm -- Brandon Montour
Cam Fowler -- Josh Manson
Michael Del Zotto -- Korbinian Holzer
John Gibson
Chad Johnson
Scratched:Adam Cracknell, Brian Gibbons, Jaycob Megna
Injured:Ondrej Kase (shoulder), Ryan Miller (knee)

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Patrick Marleau -- Auston Matthews -- Kasperi Kapanen
Zach Hyman -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner
Connor Brown -- Nazem Kadri -- William Nylander
Par Lindholm -- Frederik Gauthier -- Andreas Johnsson
Jake Muzzin -- Morgan Rielly
Jake Gardiner -- Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott -- Ron Hainsey
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
Scratched:Igor Ozhiganov, Justin Holl
Injured:Tyler Ennis (broken ankle)

Status report

Ennis took part in the morning skate, his first on-ice session with Toronto since breaking his ankle Dec. 22, but won't play.

Stat pack

Gibson has allowed three goals or more in eight of his past 12 games. … Rielly has four assists during a three-game point streak.