Despite what the Toronto Maple Leafs' rather poor record to start the season may suggest, the team has yet to face much objectively tough competition. Other than the Carolina Hurricanes, every team the Maple Leafs have played thus far either finds themselves sitting at the bottom of the standings, or has begun the year as a pleasant surprise overachieving against preseason expectations. That all changes this week starting tonight with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights followed up by games against Tampa Bay and Boston later in the week. These three teams have been some of the NHL's best over the past few seasons, and despite some slow starts of their own for Tampa and Vegas, both are currently sitting on three game winning streaks to surge back into the conversation of the NHL's elite.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to be respected as members of the NHL's elite, and be seen as true Stanley Cup Contenders they'll need to snatch at least two wins from the three games against these formidable opponents. Vegas is due up first in tonight's game, and with two matchups against divisional rivals on the horizon, it's essential that Toronto keeps the momentum of their winning streak going by beating a Vegas team that is missing many of their key players.

With Alex Tuch, Max Paccioretty, William Karlsson, and Mark Stone all expected to miss the game, the Leafs need to make sure history doesn't repeat itself with another horrific loss where an undermanned team outworks them to the point of embarrassment like we saw during the loss to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the Leafs have won two in a row, and have a new look to their blueline that has impressed thus far. A dominant win tonight would be a major statement in showing this team is learning from their mistakes as much as they claim to.

<strong>Lineups</strong>
<div id="forwards-container" class="three-col-table-wrap">
<table id="forwards" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Forwards" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="220">LW</th>
<th width="220">C</th>
<th width="220">RW</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="f1">
<td id="LW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/michael-bunting/3778/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3778/Bunting-Michael_TOR-2022_.png" alt="Michael Bunting" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MICHAEL BUNTING</span></a></td>
<td id="C1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/auston-matthews/3030/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2433/Matthews-Auston_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Auston Matthews" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">AUSTON MATTHEWS</span></a></td>
<td id="RW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/william-nylander/2776/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2375/Nylander-William_TOR-2020_.png" alt="William Nylander" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">WILLIAM NYLANDER</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f2">
<td id="LW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/alex-kerfoot/3247/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2833/Kerfoot-Alexander_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Alexander Kerfoot" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">ALEXANDER KERFOOT</span></a></td>
<td id="C2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/john-tavares/1018/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1016/Tavares-John_TOR-2020_.png" alt="John Tavares" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JOHN TAVARES</span></a></td>
<td id="RW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/mitchell-marner/2870/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2475/Marner-Mitch_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Mitch Marner" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MITCH MARNER</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f3">
<td id="LW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/pierre-engvall/4744/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4744/Engvall-Pierre_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Pierre Engvall" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">PIERRE ENGVALL</span></a></td>
<td id="C3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/david-kampf/3341/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4620/Kampf-David_TOR-2022_.png" alt="David Kampf" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">DAVID KAMPF</span></a></td>
<td id="RW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/ondrej-kase/3102/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2685/Kase-Ondrej_TOR-2022_.png" alt="Ondrej Kase" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">ONDREJ KASE</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f4">
<td id="LW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/nick-ritchie/2944/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2552/Ritchie-Nick_TOR-2022_.png" alt="Nick Ritchie" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">NICK RITCHIE</span></a></td>
<td id="C4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jason-spezza/1112/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1109/Spezza-Jason_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Jason Spezza" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JASON SPEZZA</span></a></td>
<td id="RW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/wayne-simmonds/776/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/775/Simmonds-Wayne_TOR-2021_.png" alt="Wayne Simmonds" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">WAYNE SIMMONDS</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div id="defense-container" class="two-col-table-wrap">
<table id="defense" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Defense" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th colspan="2" scope="col" width="475">DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="d1">
<td id="LD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/morgan-rielly/2319/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1935/Rielly-Morgan_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Morgan Rielly" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MORGAN RIELLY</span></a></td>
<td id="RD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/travis-dermott/3263/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2849/Dermott-Travis_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Travis Dermott" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">TRAVIS DERMOTT</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d2">
<td id="LD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jake-muzzin/769/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/768/Muzzin-Jake_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Jake Muzzin" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JAKE MUZZIN</span></a></td>
<td id="RD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/t-j-brodie/199/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/199/Brodie-TJ_TOR-2021_.png" alt="T.J. Brodie" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">T.J. BRODIE</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d3">
<td id="LD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/rasmus-sandin/4806/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4806/Sandin-Rasmus_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Rasmus Sandin" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">RASMUS SANDIN</span></a></td>
<td id="RD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/timothy-liljegren/3215/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2805/Liljegren-Timothy_TOR-2020_.png" alt="Timothy Liljegren" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">TIMOTHY LILJEGREN</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div id="pp-defense-container" class="two-col-table-wrap">
<div id="forwards-container" class="three-col-table-wrap">
<table id="forwards" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Forwards" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="220">LW</th>
<th width="220">C</th>
<th width="220">RW</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="f1">
<td id="LW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jonathan-marchessault2/2802/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2399/Marchessault-Jonathan_3.png" alt="Jonathan Marchessault" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT</span></a></td>
<td id="C1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/nicolas-roy/3818/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3818/Roy-Nicolas_VGK-2020_.png" alt="Nicolas Roy" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">NICOLAS ROY</span></a></td>
<td id="RW1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/reilly-smith/2278/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1853/Smith-Reilly_2.png" alt="Reilly Smith" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">REILLY SMITH</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f2">
<td id="LW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/william-carrier/3103/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2704/Carrier-Will_1.png" alt="Will Carrier" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">WILL CARRIER</span></a></td>
<td id="C2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/chandler-stephenson/2926/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2538/Stephenson-Chandler_VGK-202.png" alt="Chandler Stephenson" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">CHANDLER STEPHENSON</span></a></td>
<td id="RW2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/peyton-krebs/28684/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/28684/Krebs-Peyton_VGK-2022_.png" alt="Peyton Krebs" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">PEYTON KREBS</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f3">
<td id="LW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/evgenii-dadonov/581/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/580/Dadonov-Evgenii_VGK-2022_.png" alt="Evgenii Dadonov" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">EVGENII DADONOV</span></a></td>
<td id="C3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/michael-amadio/3327/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2910/VGK.png" alt="Mike Amadio" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">MIKE AMADIO</span></a></td>
<td id="RW3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/keegan-kolesar/3790/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/3790/Kolesar-Keegan_VGK-2021_.png" alt="Keegan Kolesar" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">KEEGAN KOLESAR</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="f4">
<td id="LW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/brett-howden/3056/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2660/Howeden-Brett_VGK-2022_.png" alt="Brett Howden" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">BRETT HOWDEN</span></a></td>
<td id="C4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jake-leschyshyn/4773/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4773/Leschyshyn-Jake_VGK-2022_.png" alt="Jake Leschyshyn" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JAKE LESCHYSHYN</span></a></td>
<td id="RW4"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/jonas-rondbjerg/28111/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/28111/VGK.png" alt="Jonas Rondbjerg" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">JONAS RONDBJERG</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div id="defense-container" class="two-col-table-wrap">
<table id="defense" class="playerlist" border="0" summary="Defense" cellpadding="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<th colspan="2" scope="col" width="475">DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr id="d1">
<td id="LD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/nicolas-hague/3209/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2799/Hague-Nic_VGK_.png" alt="Nicolas Hague" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">NICOLAS HAGUE</span></a></td>
<td id="RD1"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/alex-pietrangelo/1343/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1339/Pietrangelo-Alex_VGK-2021_.png" alt="Alex Pietrangelo" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">ALEX PIETRANGELO</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d2">
<td id="LD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/alec-martinez/763/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/762/Martinez-Alec_VGK-2020.png" alt="Alec Martinez" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">ALEC MARTINEZ</span></a></td>
<td id="RD2"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/shea-theodore/2544/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/2157/Theodore-Shea_2.png" alt="Shea Theodore" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">SHEA THEODORE</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr id="d3">
<td id="LD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/brayden-mcnabb/2068/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/1681/McNabb-Brayden_1.png" alt="Brayden McNabb" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">BRAYDEN MCNABB</span></a></td>
<td id="RD3"><a class="player-link" href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/dylan-coghlan/4601/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal"><img class="jersey-image" src="https://api.dailyfaceoff.com/uploads/player/jersey/4601/Coghlan-Dylan_VGK-2021_.png" alt="Dylan Coghlan" width="110px" height="auto" />
<span class="player-name">DYLAN COGHLAN</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div id="viz1635868806864" class="tableauPlaceholder"><a href="#"><img style="border: none" src="https://public.tableau.com/static/images/TL/TLNTaleoftheTape/Dashboard1/1_rss.png" alt="Dashboard 1 " /></a></div>
<strong>Who to watch for the Leafs: Mitch Marner</strong>

After finally scoring a goal, especially a messy one that came as a result of some excellent forechecking, it will be interesting to see if some of the pressure of his goalless drought is off Marner's back and he can regain the touch that left him top five in league scoring last season. Since he joined Tavares' wing, the team captain has looked dominant at times, grabbing himself four points over the last two games. It leaves one wondering if opponents had figured out how to stop the Marner/Matthews combo and are now struggling to contain these new lines with the two split up.

<strong>Who to watch for the Knights: Mike Amadio</strong>

A former Leaf coming back to play his old team after being criticized by the fanbase? We all know what's happening here don't we? A good way to figure out who's a new Leafs fan tonight is to look for anyone who finds themselves surprised at Amadio's eventual goal. We all know it's coming, so might as well enjoy the show.

<strong>Starting Goaltenders</strong>

</div>
After Mrázek got some time between the pipes on Saturday, it's expected that Jack Campbell will take his turn in net for the Maple Leafs tonight. Campbell has picked up where he left off last season, with a .918 save percentage that matches his career average as he looks to prove to the franchise that he can handle being the starting netminder for this team.

As of publication, it hasn't been confirmed who the Knights starter will be but with the team not on a back-to-back for this contest, it's expected that starter Robin Lehner will start for Vegas as he also has something to prove, hoping to show that keeping him over Vezina winner Marc-André Fleury was the correct choice.

<strong>Milestone Watch</strong>

Pierre Engvall celebrates his 100th career NHL game tonight.

TJ Brodie celebrates his 700th career NHL game tonight.

Ondrej Kase is one point away from 100 career NHL points.

<em>Tonight's game starts at 7pm on TSN4.</em>

</div>

Maple Leafs enter toughest stretch of the season needing to prove they can beat contenders

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