Backed by solid goaltending and a bend-but-not-break defensive effort, the Ottawa Senators are one of the league's biggest surprises as they try to extend their best start in seven years.
That's a trend they hope to continue against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who look to build on a balanced scoring outburst.
As they host the first round of the Battle of Ontario, the Senators will try to claim their fifth consecutive victory while winning back-to-back matchups with the Maple Leafs for the first time in 12 meetings Wednesday night.
With its 3-2 victory over Columbus on Saturday, Ottawa (4-1-0) secured its best start through five games since 2007 when it won its first five on the way to a 13-1-0 start.
Robin Lehner finished with 38 saves to win for the second time in as many starts, while fellow netminder Craig Anderson has gone 2-1-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average in his three outings.
"They've both played well for us and it's what our team needs," coach Paul MacLean told the NHL's official website. "We're trying to make sure we give both of them every opportunity to play and give both of them action."
Although MacLean's club ranks near the bottom of the league allowing an average of 35.6 shots per game, Anderson and Lehner have led Ottawa to one of the NHL's best save percentages at .944, to go along with a 2.00 GAA.
Anderson helped snap the Senators' six-game skid versus the Maple Leafs (3-3-1) with 28 saves in a 1-0 victory in April.
"It's a healthy rivalry and we have tons of respect for what they do," said MacLean, who hasn't named a starting goalie. "They've, to this point, been better than us. We won the last one at the end of last year so we'll see if we can get on a streak."
Toronto, however, figures to provide a difficult challenge after nine players finished with at least one point in Tuesday's 5-2 road win over the New York Islanders that ended a two-game losing streak.
Phil Kessel had two goals with an assist, giving him four goals and eight points in his last five games. He also had four goals and three assists to help the Maple Leafs take three of four, including two shootout wins, in last season's series.
"That's how it goes," said James van Riemsdyk, who also scored Tuesday. "He doesn't need room to be able to put (pucks) in."
Aside from scoring only once in two losses against Detroit, Toronto has totaled 19 goals in its five other contests.
Jonathan Bernier allowed two first-period goals but nothing else Tuesday, stopping 34 shots on the way to his first win. James Reimer, though, could be back in net as Toronto closes its third back-to-back set of the season.
Reimer is 2-1-0 with a 2.87 GAA overall this season and 9-2-1 with a 1.98 GAA in 13 career starts against the Senators.
The Maple Leafs reportedly put in the first offer to David Legwand in July before the free agent center agreed to a two-year contract worth $6 million with Ottawa just two days later. Legwand has scored in each of his past two games, while former Leafs winger Clarke MacArthur has two goals and an assist in his last three.
Kyle Turris, who hasn't scored in four straight since netting one in the opener, has two goals in 13 meetings with Toronto.