The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals met, the former was on its way to winning four of five while the latter was in the midst of dropping four of five. Jameer Nelson Jersey . The outcome of that game was as would be expected. When the teams meet tonight in Toronto, recent form will be entirely flipped, and the club with extended struggles will have a new coach on the bench. Since that 1-3-1 stretch from Nov. 22-Dec. 2, which included a 6-2 loss at Toronto on Nov. 29, the Capitals (20-11-7) have been one of the best team in hockey with a 10-1-3 record making for a furious ascent in the Metropolitan Division. We dont get flustered as much as we did earlier in the year, coach Barry Trotz said. Early in the year our highs were very high and our lows were low ... (now) theres not too many highs or too many lows. We just say Hey, things are going to happen, lets just get the momentum back, lets get the next one, lets go. The Maple Leafs (21-16-3) havent struggled for as long of a time, but theyve clearly had enough after a 2-7-0 span. On Tuesday, it cost coach Randy Carlyle his job. Assistants Peter Horacek and Steve Spott will take over for the time being, and theres been no indication as to which avenue the club will take toward finding a full-time solution. I think wed all agree weve had some good periods, good stretches, but I dont think I can stand here in front of you and say that weve been consistent, general manager Dave Nonis said. We just felt at this point this was the right time to make the change and move ahead and try to get this team back playing like we have played for periods this season. The new coaches will debut before a home crowd after a seven-game road trip that ended with a 5-1 loss Saturday at Winnipeg. Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri missed the past two games with a lower-body injury but looks to be in line for a return tonight. He was expected to miss 7-10 days. Stephane Robidas, who sat as a healthy scratch the past four games, appears to be back in the lineup for tonights contest as well. Torontos defensive struggles figure to be at the forefront of the new regimes focus, having allowed 3.89 goals per game over the nine-game span with a power-play goal conceded in five straight (70.6 percent). Its been too much of a roller-coaster, Nonis said. Its not that (players are) not capable because they are. Its not that they havent done it because they have. Thats probably the biggest reason, or one of the biggest reasons, for the change today. The Capitals, meanwhile, can match a season-best three-game winning streak after Sundays 4-3 home win over Florida. Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist, splitting a multipoint effort for a third straight game, and he and Nicklas Backstrom had a fresh face on the top line. Rookie Andre Burakovsky skated with the top Capitals forwards for the first time, and he scored his fifth goal of the season for his only point in seven games. He was playing with two big stars and he didnt look intimidated, Trotz said. Braden Holtby has been in goal for the entire 14-game stretch with a 2.05 goals-against average. As a starter against Toronto, hes 2-0-1 with a 0.97 GAA. Jonathan Bernier gets the start in goal for Toronto after James Reimer faced the Jets. Against Washington, Bernier is 3-1-0 with a 2.01 GAA, including a 35-save effort in the November meeting. Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen is questionable after suffering a lower-body injury against Florida. Capitals (47PTS) at Maple Leafs (45PTS) - 7PM TOR is 1-0-0 vs WSH this season, winning at home TOR has won 3 straight at home vs WSH TOR (21-16-3): lost 2 straight, 1GF in each game, 1/8 on PP JVR (3G, 5A) past 6 games WSH (20-11-7): 3-0-1 past 4 games, 3GF in each game, 2/15 on PP Ovechkin (3G, 3A) 3 game PT streak Projected Leafs lines vs. Capitals FORWARD Winnik - Kadri - Kessel van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Santorelli Komarov - Smith - Clarkson Panik - Carrick - McKegg DEFENCE Phaneuf - Franson Rielly - Polak Gardiner - Robidas GOALIE Bernier Starts Magic Jerseys China .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch. Markelle Fultz Jersey . More importantly, he is trying to show his young teammates the Colorado are still post-season contenders. He hopes winning a series at home was a fresh start. https://www.cheapmagiconline.com/ . Freddie Roach said if the Rios fight "does not go well, we will seriously talk about his retirement," but that Pacquiao was training as well as ever for the Nov. PHOENIX -- Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Eric Chavez announced his retirement Wednesday, ending his 17-year major league career at the age of 36. The left-handed hitting infielder, on the disabled list since June 9 because of a sprained left knee, spent 13 seasons with the Oakland Athletics, two with the New York Yankees and was in his second season with Arizona. Chavez won six AL Gold Gloves from 2001-2006. In 1,615 career regular-season games, he hit .268 with 260 home runs and 902 RBIs. This season, he hit .246 with three homers and eight RBIs in 69 at-bats. Chavez appeared in 1,402 games at third base, 21 at first base, five at shortstop and two in left field. He had a career .970 fielding percentage at third base and was the 2002 AL Silver Slugger winner at the position. He was selected by Oakland in the first round of the 1996 draft out of Mount Carmel High School in San Diego and made his major league debut for the As inn 1998. Rashard Lewis Jersey. Texas manager Ron Washington was a longtime coach in Oakland and was the Athletics infield instructor. He was there when Chavez made his debut as a 20-year-old late in the 1998 season, and for eight more seasons after that. Chavez later gave Washington one of his Gold Gloves and inscribed it, "Wash, not without you." "He had a tremendous career. Eric Chavez was smart, he was a class act and he was a pro, he was great teammate," Washington said before Wednesday nights game against the Yankees. "I was asked one time if I thought Eric could ever win a Gold Glove. I said it was up to Eric if wants to win a Gold Glove. And he won his first Gold Glove, then he won five more, and his back went out. Thats the kind of player he was," he said. "He had power, he could hit for average, smart on the basepaths. He was good. ... He was a special player, he really was." ' ' '