New Jersey Devils (43-21-8) at Toronto Maple Leafs (34-28-10), 7:30 p.m.

(Sports Network) - Two Eastern Conference teams currently locked in heated playoff races will face off tonight at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, where the Maple Leafs return home for an important matchup with the New Jersey Devils.

Tonight's showdown is more crucial for the Maple Leafs, who stand two points behind Carolina for the eighth and final postseason spot in the East. New Jersey has all but assured itself a playoff berth, but its once-comfortable lead atop the Atlantic Division over the hard-charging Pittsburgh Penguins has dwindled to a mere two points.

There's also a bit of bad blood between the clubs, stemming from an incident when they last faced each other earlier this month. In a 4-3 Toronto victory at the Meadowlands on March 2, Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher after being leveled along the boards by a late hit from Devils enforcer Cam Janssen.

Janssen was handed a three-game suspension by the NHL for his actions, while Kaberle has yet to return from concussion-like symptoms resulting from the play. The All-Star blueliner recently returned to practice but is still unlikely to suit up tonight.

Toronto didn't help its playoff cause when it dropped back-to-back road games at Washington and Montreal over the weekend. The Maple Leafs did manage to earn a point in Saturday's loss to the rival Canadiens, who needed a shootout before coming through with a 3-2 decision.

Kyle Wellwood had a goal and an assist and Pavel Kubina also tallied for Toronto. Netminder Andrew Raycroft compiled 29 saves in regulation, but allowed goals to the Habs' Saku Koivu and Andrei Kostitsyn during the shootout.

The Maple Leafs will be attempting to extend a three-game home win streak tonight, although the team has posted a disappointing 15-15-5 record at the Air Canada Centre this season.

New Jersey continued its shaky month of March with an embarrassing home loss to Carolina on Saturday. The Hurricanes erupted for four second-period goals en route to a 7-2 rout in the finale of a home-and-home series between the teams.

Martin Brodeur yielded four goals on just 12 shots before being pulled in favor of Scott Clemmensen midway through the second period. David Clarkson and Travis Zajac had the goals for the Devils, who fell to 3-4-1 for the month.

New Jersey played its second straight game without forwards Patrik Elias and John Madden, both of whom are hobbled by groin injuries and are doubtful to return tonight.

Tonight's contest begins a five-game road trip for the Devils, who have won three in a row away from home and are an impressive 21-11-3 as the visitor.

The Devils had taken the first two meetings of this year's season series before Toronto's victory earlier this month. The Leafs have won six of the last eight encounters, though, and are 3-1 against New Jersey at home during that span.