Toronto Maple Leafs (18-9-2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (11-14-4)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m., Little Caesars Arena
TV: Sportsnet, CBC Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Maple Leafs -175, Red Wings +141
The buzz
The Shanaplan hasn’t gone according to plan in Toronto in the 10-plus years since Brendan Shanahan took over as Maple Leafs president, and his former Red Wings teammate Steve Yzerman hasn’t exactly built a winner in Detroit either. The Wings haven’t made the Stanley Cup playoffs since Yzerman was hired as general manager in April 2019 and it’s not looking good for them in 2024-25, as they’re six points out of the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. At least the Leafs are annual playoff participants … The Wings’ lone win in their past seven games was a 6-5 shootout victory against Buffalo on Monday. Considering the Sabres — who visit Washington on Saturday before meeting the Leafs in Toronto on Sunday — have lost eight in a row, the Wings couldn’t have been boasting about the result … Patrick Kane is on a nine-game pointless streak, a career high. The Wings veteran has 10 points in 24 games, but all of them came in his first 15 games … Detroit’s penalty kill has not been good, sitting 31st at 67.9%. At home, it’s uglier: The Wings are at 55.3%, having allowed 17 goals on 38 opponent power plays … Having mentioned the Wings penalty kill, let’s note that the Leafs are 2-for-16 on the power play in their past seven games. To that end, coach Craig Berube abandoned at practice on Friday the five-forward No. 1 unit. “The five forwards worked for a bit,” Berube said. “I thought it looked good at times, and then the last couple games I’ve not liked it, so I switched it up.” Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares were on the first unit on Friday. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Conor Timmins, Max Pacioretty, Max Domi and Matthew Knies were on the second … Toronto is 8-3-1 in its past 12 games against Detroit.
The news
Ville Husso will start in net for the Wings after Cam Talbot tweaked a lower-body injury in practice on Friday. Husso is 2-1-0 in three games against the Leafs in his career, posting a .904 save percentage.
The quote
“They’re getting some of the best goaltending in the league, but I think that is their play in front of them. Both (goalies) are well above expected (goals against) but you can get that if you’re doing some good things in front of them. Credit to Toronto.”
— Wings coach Derek Lalonde on the Leafs
The poll
Which centre should Leafs general manager Brad Treliving target before the NHL trade deadline in March?
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies / Auston Matthews / Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty / John Tavares / William Nylander
Bobby McMann / Fraser Minten / Max Domi
Pontus Holmberg / Connor Dewar / Steven Lorentz
Defence
Jake McCabe / Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly / Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit / Conor Timmins
Goal
Joseph Woll
Dennis Hildeby
The injuries
DET: G Alex Lyon (lower body), G Cam Talbot (lower body).
TOR: G Anthony Stolarz (lower body), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), C David Kampf (lower body).
The prediction
The Leafs take advantage of the Wings’ subpar home record (5-7-2) and win 4-1.
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