GAME DAY: Red Wings at Maple Leafs
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GAME DAY: Red Wings at Maple Leafs
DETROIT RED WINGS (15-17-5) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (23-10-2)
7:30 p.m., Scotiabank Arena, Sportsnet, The Fan 590
BIG MATCHUP
Dylan Larkin vs. Auston Matthews
When Detroit defeated Toronto at Scotiabank Arena on Dec. 6, Dylan Larkin won the matchup against Auston Matthews, as the Red Wings had 14 shot attempts to the Leafs’ six when both players were on the ice during five-on-five play. Considering his team’s depth, Leafs coach Mike Babcock might not be too worried about keeping Matthews away from Larkin, but he is bound to consider as much. Larkin and Luke Glendening both are sharp at the dot, as each come in at over 55%.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Garret’s gains
Following the template that Mike Babcock uses, expect Garret Sparks to be in goal in the second game of the back to back. It would mark Sparks’ first appearance since Dec. 8, when he mopped up for Frederik Andersen in Boston, and first start since Dec. 6, when the Leafs lost to Detroit in overtime. Sparks had a shaky start that night but eventually settled down as the Leafs rallied for a point. Sparks, who has a .913 save percentage in seven games, remains in a prove-yourself phase. Toronto is 3-1-0 in the second game of back-to-back sets.
2. Lesson learned
No one would confuse the Red Wings with the strongest outfits in the NHL, but the Leafs likely won’t need a reminder of the embarrassment that comes with failing to take a team seriously. When the Leafs were beaten by the Wings two weeks ago, a major factor was a shoddy Toronto start. “They were just better than us,” Babcock said that night. “The greatest thing about the game, I say this all the time, it’s so honest. We didn’t have enough hands on deck.”
3. Let’s play two
Neither club will have the benefit of rest, as the Red Wings arrived in Toronto Saturday night after playing host to the Florida Panthers in the afternoon; the Leafs started their only two-game set this season that involves home games on consecutive nights when they entertained the New York Rangers. The Wings were stymied by goaltender Roberto Luongo and lost 2-1 to the Panthers despite having a 34-23 edge in shots on goal. On the road, Detroit is not a consistent threat in 2018-19, compiling a record of 7-8-2. Overall, the Wings have won just three of their past 11 games.
4. Larkin looming large
Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin had a nine-game point streak end when he was held off the scoresheet against Florida, but remains a concern for the Leafs. Larkin has five goals and seven assists in his past 10 games, including a goal and an assist in the Wings’ win in Toronto earlier this month. There’s a good chance the smart, quick Larkin gets at least another point on Sunday, as he has 11 points (five goals and six assists) in 13 career games versus Toronto.
5. Revenge factor?
The Leafs’ overall toughness was called into question after the teams last met, when Wings defenceman Niklas Kronwall went unpunished by Toronto players after piling Auston Matthews into the end boards at Scotiabank Arena. Matthews was not hurt on the play and the hit no longer appears to be an issue in the Leafs dressing room. Still, that kind of collision could ensure that the Leafs know when the 37-year-old Kronwall is on the ice on Sunday night.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Andreas Johnsson-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau-Auston Matthews-Kasperi Kapanen
Connor Brown-Nazem Kadri-William Nylander
Par Lindholm-Frederik Gauthier-Tyler Ennis
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott-Martin Marincin/Igor Ozhiganov
Goaltenders
Garret Sparks
Frederik Andersen
RED WINGS LINES
LW-C-RW
Gustav Nyquist-Dylan Larkin-Justin Abdelkader
Tyler Bertuzzi-Frans Nielsen-Thomas Vanek
Martin Frk-Luke Glendening-Michael Rasmussen
Christopher Ehn-Jacob de la Rose-Wade Megan
Defence pairs
Niklas Kronwall-Nick Jensen
Dennis Cholowski-Trevor Daley
Jonathan Ericsson-Filip Hronek
Goaltenders
Jonathan Bernier
Jimmy Howard
INJURIES
Red Wings — F Andreas Athanasiou (upper body), D Danny DeKeyser (hand), D Mike Green (lower body), LW Anthony Mantha (hand), RW Darren Helm (upper body), F Evgeny Svechnikov (knee).
Maple Leafs — LW Zach Hyman (ankle).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Red Wings: 19.6% (17th)
Maple Leafs: 24.7% (6th)
Penalty kill
Red Wings: 78.9% (17th)
Maple Leafs: 78.5% (20th)
