Toronto Maple Leafs look to build momentum against Ottawa Senators after two-goal performance by forward William Nylander

The Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the Ottawa Senators to Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night. The contest marks the first meeting of the season between the two divisional rivals.

Toronto enters the game riding momentum from William Nylander's two-goal performance in a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Maple Leafs will look to build on that offensive output against an Ottawa squad that has been one of the surprise teams in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto Maple Leafs seeking consistency after recent struggles in power plays and drop in standings

Toronto sits at 16-15-5 on the season with 37 points, placing them in the middle of the Atlantic Division standings. The Maple Leafs have struggled to find consistency throughout the campaign, particularly against divisional opponents, where they own a disappointing 4-6-1 record.

The team has posted a negative-5 scoring differential with 115 goals scored and 120 allowed through 36 games. Those defensive struggles have plagued Toronto all season and represent a major concern heading into Saturday's matchup.

Over their last 10 games, the Maple Leafs have gone 4-4-2 while averaging 2.6 goals per game. The offense has sputtered at times despite having elite talent throughout the lineup. Toronto has also averaged 2.7 penalties and six penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game during that stretch.

Auston Matthews leads the team with 14 goals and eight assists through 36 games. Bobby McMann has provided a recent spark with four goals and one assist over the past 10 contests.

Ottawa Senators heading Into Toronto with strong record

Ottawa has enjoyed a much better season than many expected. The Senators sit at 18-13-5 with 41 points, four points ahead of Toronto in the Atlantic Division standings. The team has been particularly effective within the division, posting a 5-2-3 record in Atlantic matchups.

That success against divisional opponents gives Ottawa confidence heading into Saturday's game. Drake Batherson has paced the Senators' offense with 14 goals and 22 assists. Tim Stutzle has been hot lately, scoring seven goals with eight assists over the last 10 games.

Ottawa has gone 5-4-1 over their past 10 contests while averaging 3.5 goals per game. The Senators have been more offensively productive than Toronto during that span, though they've also averaged 3.9 penalties and 11.1 penalty minutes compared to Toronto's more disciplined play.

Both teams enter Saturday's contest healthy, with no injuries listed on either side. The BetMGM Sportsbook lists the Maple Leafs at -111, with the Senators at -109, reflecting how closely matched these division rivals appear to be. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Scotiabank Arena.

Also Read: William Nylander faces lack of confidence after Toronto Maple Leafs’ 5-1 loss to Stars

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