The Penguins have won 10 in a row at PPG Paints Arena and look to make it 11 -- two short of a four-year-old franchise record -- tonight against Toronto.
It won't be easy. As hot as the Penguins are, so are the Maple Leafs. They have won five in a row, all at home, and nine of their past 10.
The Maple Leafs are 16-11-3 on the road, where they have outscored opponents, 98-85. Their 35 road points are fourth-most in the NHL. Included in the Leafs' road wins this season was a 4-3 victory in Pittsburgh on Dec. 9 when Tyler Bozak scored twice, including this one late in the second period on Tristan Jarry which proved to be the game winner:
The Penguins appear to be a different team since then. But we should know exactly how much by sometime around 10 p.m.
Here are tonight's three keys to victory:
1. Mirror images?
A young, fast team led by a dynamic generational superstar? That was the Penguins circa 2007-08, and could be the Maple Leafs this season.
Toronto hasn't reached the Eastern Conference final since Mats Sundin and Co. in 2002 and haven't won the Stanley Cup since Johnny Bower and Co. in 1967. But after pushing the Presidents Trophy-winning Capitals to a Game 7 in last year's opening round, the Leafs look poised to take the next step.
Led by youngsters Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, Toronto has all the ingredients -- at least up front -- to do it. Only Tampa Bay (208) has scored more goals than the Leafs (198).
For both teams, the best defense will be a good offense.
"It's just going to be who does a better job of getting out of their own end," Sidney Crosby said. "I think both teams try to forecheck well and spend time in the offensive zone. For us, we're going to have to try to be good getting out of our zone quick and playing in their end. That will be a big challenge."
2. Be ready for Freddy.
Defensively, the Leafs are nothing special (though Lou Lamoriello might change that by the trade deadline). All you need to know is that Ron Hainsey is skating on Toronto's top pair.
But what the Leafs do have is Frederik Andersen. The big Dane -- 6-foot-4, 230 pounds -- takes up a lot of net and he is second in wins (29) and fourth in shutouts (4).
He's also won his last four starts, including Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jackets in which he stopped a remarkable 54 of Columbus' 57 shots.
The Penguins will need to get to the net and take away Andersen's vision. Zach Aston-Reese will need to keep doing what he's been doing:
"Just be ready to create second and third opportunities, make sure we're shooting the puck," Crosby said. "You don't want that to stop you from shooting the puck if a goalie is playing well. You have to do what's given you success in the past. For us that's just getting pucks there, making sure we compete around the net. Understand that you're facing a goalie that's going to compete for those second and third opportunities. It's just a mindset."
3. It's a Hockey Night in Pittsburgh ... and Canada.
For the second time this season, Pens-Leafs on a Saturday night is a nationally televised broadcast (NHL Network in the U.S.). And for good reason.
The game pits Crosby versus Matthews. The best right now versus, arguably, the next one.
In the first meeting this season, Crosby scored his 13th goal but Matthews' Leafs skated off with the win. In four career games against the Penguins, Matthews has just one goal and one assist, both coming in an April 8 game last year, but that's not going to last.
Matthews is a big body who is good at changing angles and using defensemen as screens to score.
"He just plays a solid two-way game," Crosby said. "He's got a great shot. He just finds ways to score goals. A guy like that's going to get chances but we have to make sure we limit them. Try and get stick-on-puck because he's pretty dangerous from everywhere."
Jamie Oleksiak says the Penguins have to be aware every time Matthews is on the ice, especially early.
"A guy like that, you don't want him to get going, you don't want him to get a feel for the puck," Oleksiak said. "Closing in space on him, not give him so much room and always be aware of him when he's on the ice. Don't let him get lost in the offensive zone and the neutral zone. Make sure he's always a stick length away. Just make it hard for him."