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The Anaheim Ducks will be looking forward to welcoming the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight for a clash that provides them with the perfect opportunity to snap out of a losing streak that has seen them lose three games in a row. They'll be welcoming back a familiar face as Toronto's manager, Brian Burke, returns to the place where he managed to build a successful Stanley Cup-winning team just two seasons into his reign there.

It's difficult to see where a turning point for the Maple Leafs will come from. Their terrible run of form seems to have a momentum all of its own and doesn't look like coming to an end any time soon. Their awful start to the season is the worst in franchise history and an extended stint on the road, which began in Vancouver at the weekend, is unlikely to bring any dramatic change in fortune for the Leafs. They were defeated 3-1 on Saturday, despite having numerous chances to notch up more than the one goal that they managed.

In Anaheim's last clash, an early lead was wasted as the Blue Jackets emerged victorious 6-4. Inconsistent performances in goal have plagued the Ducks and, although their problems in defense are negligible compared to Toronto's current plight, they'll need to perform better tonight to give themselves the best chance possible of winning comfortably.

All the right noises are currently emerging from the Toronto camp. Suggestions that the start to the season has ended all hopes of the side putting together even a relatively successful run over the course of the year have been denied, with short term streaks apparently failing to worry the management. The NHL history books have been wheeled out and dusted off in order to bolster the Leafs' case; teams have recovered from losing streaks of the kind Toronto are suffering to put together strong assaults towards the back end of the season.

Whether or not the fans will be taken in by this kind of stance remains to be seen but it seems likely that all they care about is bringing an end to this run of form sooner rather than later. They don't like being the whipping boys of the league, nor being supporters of the team that has become the butt of everyone's jokes. Toronto are, unsurprisingly, massive outsiders in the NHL odds for this clash. They are available to back for victory at odds of [3.5], with Anaheim favored at [1.96].

Elsewhere in the NHL tonight, the New York Islanders, still desperately seeking a regulation win and severely lacking a potent attacking threat up front, are heading to Montreal in a clash they are outsiders to win at odds of [3.8]. Montreal are on for the victory at [1.9] and will be confident of bringing an end to their homestand with a fourth consecutive win.