(My Sportsbook) - The first-place Washington Capitals will try to avoid a second straight loss when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs for tonight's battle at Air Canada Centre.

The Capitals, who lead the Southeast Division with 96 points, have played their last four games on the road against divisional opponents and earned a split in those outings. After losing in Atlanta last Monday, Washington posted consecutive wins over Florida and Tampa Bay, but was then handed Saturday's loss to Carolina.

The Hurricanes notched a 4-1 decision over the Caps at RBC Center in a matchup between the top two teams in the division. Washington is currently nine points ahead of Carolina for first place in the Southeast.

Joni Pitkanen netted the game-winner early in the third period to lead Carolina to Saturday's win.

Mike Green scored the lone goal for Capitals and leads all defensemen this year with 28 goals and 64 points.

Jose Theodore gave up three goals on 29 shots for Washington, which is also third in the East and just one point behind the New Jersey Devils.

Tonight's test marks the finale of a five-game road trip for the Caps, who are 19-14-4 as the visiting team this season. Washington will play its next four games on home ice, beginning with Friday's matchup against Tampa Bay.

Toronto, which is 12th in the East with 73 points, has won three of its last four games and is coming off Saturday's road victory over the rival Montreal Canadiens.

Alexei Ponikarovsky had two goals and two assists, as the Maple Leafs slammed the slumping Canadiens, 5-2, at the Bell Centre. Mikhail Grabovski had a goal and three assists while Nikolai Kulemin added a goal and two assists for the Leafs.

Martin Gerber made 26 saves in the win and improved to 4-3-0 in seven games since claiming the netminder off waivers from Ottawa.

The Leafs are currently eight points away from the conference's eighth and final postseason spot with just nine games to play.

Toronto is just 13-13-9 as the host team this season, but has won two of its last three home tests. Next up for the Leafs is Friday's game in Buffalo.

Washington has taken two of three from the Leafs this year and tonight's matchup will complete the season series. The Caps have won five of eight overall against Toronto and has come out on top in two of three and four of their last six stops at ACC.