The Four Nations Face-Off gives plenty of reason for NHL fans–particularly Toronto Maple Leafs fans–to be invested in the tournament. The Maple Leafs are one of just two NHL franchises that will be represented on all four squads.

Auston Matthews will wear the ‘C’ for the red, white and blue. The Toronto Maple Leafs star has been named captain for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament set for next month in Montreal and Boston.

John Hynes knows that William Nylander can lead the Maple Leafs out of the little hole they’ve dug for themselves. The Leafs have scored just two goals in losing their past two games, and neither came off the stick of Nylander after the star winger had four goals in the previous three games, all Toronto victories.

Jared Spurgeon and Marat Khusnutdinov scored in the first period, Filip Gustavsson stopped 31 shots, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Wednesday night. Marcus Foligno added an empty-netter in the final minute as Minnesota won its second straight to improve to 3-5-0 in their last eight games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 3-1 to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday (Jan. 29). The Maple Leafs have two winless skids of three straight games in January.

The Maple Leafs are pushing through a rough stretch of games. Posting a 4-6 record in their last 10 games, the Leafs have dropped three in a row and fallen from first place in the