The big picture

Pittsburgh Penguins come in 23rd on the ladder; Toronto Maple Leafs are 21st. Only a couple of spots separate them, so there is plenty riding on it.

Pittsburgh Penguins are 5–11 in NHL 2026-27, averaging 3.2 goals for and 3.6 against.

Toronto Maple Leafs are 8–9 in NHL 2026-27, averaging 3.6 goals for and 3.3 against.

Form

Pittsburgh Penguins have won one of their last five and most recently lost to Boston Bruins 2–6.

Toronto Maple Leafs have won two of their last five and most recently lost to Utah Mammoth 2–3.

Pittsburgh Penguins have lost their last four.

Head to head

These sides have met 51 times on our records since 2009: Pittsburgh Penguins 26, Toronto Maple Leafs 25.

Last time out (2025-26), Toronto Maple Leafs won 6–3 at Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto Maple Leafs have won the last four against Pittsburgh Penguins.

Biggest margin between these two: Toronto Maple Leafs by 7 goals in 2023-24 (7–0).

Players to watch

For Pittsburgh Penguins, watch Nick Robertson (0.4 goals a game in 2026-27) and Evgeni Malkin (0.4 goals a game, 5 assists in 2026-27).

For Toronto Maple Leafs, watch Auston Matthews (0.6 goals a game, 15 assists in 2026-27) and William Nylander (0.6 goals a game, 11 assists in 2026-27).

At PPG Paints Arena

Pittsburgh Penguins have won 9 of their last 19 at PPG Paints Arena.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Toronto Maple Leafs have the edge.