GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs wrap up regular season at home against Detroit Red Wings
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DETROIT RED WINGS (39-35-7) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (51-26-4)
When: Thursday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
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GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs wrap up regular season at home against Detroit Red Wings Back to video
TV: TSN4 Radio: The Fan 590
Odds: Red Wings +178, Maple Leafs -227
The buzz
The Maple Leafs head into their final home game of 2024-25 having won six in a row at Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs haven’t lost at home since March 15, when they were beaten 4-2 by their first-round playoff opponent, the Ottawa Senators … Since that loss to the Sens, the Leafs are 12-2-1 in 15 games. They’re playoff-ready, no matter what happens against the Red Wings … With 51 wins, the Leafs have the second-most in team history (54 is the record, set in 2021-22). And with 106 points, they have the third-most in team history (following 115 in ’21-’22 and 111 in 2022-23) … Five of Steven Lorentz’s eight goals this season have been game-winners, coming in 79 games. In 230 NHL career games prior to this season, Lorentz had three game-winning goals … A Leafs victory would put them on a five-game winning streak to end the regular season. It would mark the third time the Leafs have won five in a row … Detroit has had a nice run since Todd McLellan replaced the fired Derek Lalonde as coach on Dec. 26, going 26-18-3 including beating the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. The Wings, though, will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the ninth year in a row. They have not been in the post-season since Mike Babcock’s last year as coach in 2015-16 … The Wings have won five of their past seven, with the victories coming against Dallas, Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina and New Jersey — all teams heading to the playoffs.
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The news
Having clinched the Atlantic Division title and with nothing on the line, we’ll be curious to see how much ice time captain Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander get. “We’ll manage minutes the best we can,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “We’re going to use everybody.” … Berube said the three injured Leafs who are not on LTIR — defencemen Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson and centre David Kampf — will not play. Berube said he is “pretty confident” that each will be ready for Game 1 … The Leafs didn’t practise on Wednesday, taking the day off after winning 4-0 in Buffalo on Tuesday … Joseph Woll will start in goal.
The quote
“I’m really proud of this group. This group has done it consistently, and that’s the biggest thing, is consistency. It’s a great feeling. We’re pumped up more than anything. We have one more here to finish up on Thursday, and then we’re ready to rock.”
— Lorentz on clinching the Atlantic Division title
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Max Domi-John Tavares-William Nylander
Nick Robertson-Pontus Holmberg-Bobby McMann
Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok
Defence
Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers
Simon Benoit-Chris Tanev
Dakota Mermis-Brandon Carlo
Goalies
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
The injuries
TOR: D Jake McCabe (undisclosed), C David Kampf (upper body), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed), D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (undisclosed).
DET: F Andrew Copp (pectoral), D Erik Gustafsson (undisclosed), F Carter Mazur (upper body), F Elmer Soderblom (undisclosed).
The prediction
The Leafs win 4-1, giving them a victory in three of the four meetings between the clubs this season.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @koshtorontosun
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