Game day: Maple Leafs at Pittsburgh Penguins

CONSOL ENERGY CENTRE PUCK DROP: 7 p.m. TV: CBC RADIO: TSN 1050 Toronto KEY PLAYERS: Nazem Kadri, Leafs, and Sidney Crosby, Penguins. Kadri had his best game of the season two weeks ago when he shut down the Oilers’ Connor McDavid and scored two goals. Now he faces the game’s best player in Crosby, who is on a points tear. Crosby scored on a nifty deflection in Pittsburgh’s 4-2 loss to Minnesota Thursday, his ninth goal in eight games. That’s the best eight-game start of his career. NEED TO KNOW: Phil Kessel has been a key figure for the Penguins — as a playmaker. Kessel has three goals and 10 assists in 14 games, and set up Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for nice goals this week. Kessel does not get enough credit for his passing skills . . . The Penguins scored a pair of power-play goals against the Wild and are fourth in the NHL with the man advantage. Minnesota had allowed just two power-play goals all season . . . The loss to the Wild was Pittsburgh’s first at home this season. The Pen have won 35 of their last 46 games at home . . . Toronto had given up 40 or more shots in three consecutive games before Friday. UP NEXT: Tuesday, vs. Nashville.