GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs, Red Wings gear up for Hall of Fame showdown
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Detroit Red Wings (6-5-1) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (7-5-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
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GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs, Red Wings gear up for Hall of Fame showdown Back to video
TV: TSN4 Radio: TSN 1050
Odds: Red Wings +155, Maple Leafs -188
The buzz
To the consternation of general manager Steve Yzerman (we would guess), the Red Wings haven’t nailed down consistency through the first month. After losing and winning in its first two games, Detroit lost two, won three, lost three and arrive in Toronto having won its past two … Just in time for suddenly clicking Leafs power play comes a Wings penalty kill that was 28th in the NHL before games on Thursday, though the visitors are 7-for-8 on the kill in their past four games … Lucas Raymond leads the Wings in scoring with 12 points, but has just one goal in 12 games after scoring a career-high 31 a year ago … The Leafs are coming off one their most complete wins of the season, a 4-0 shutout against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Toronto gave up just 14 shots on goal at five-on-five, equalling its fewest against (done twice previously) in a game in 2024-25 … Considering he has 28 points (14 goals and 14 assists) in 24 career games against the Wings, it stands to reason that Mitch Marner will extend his point streak to seven games.
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The news
No surprise, but Leafs captain Auston Matthews (upper body) won’t play … Anthony Stolarz was the first goalie off the ice at the Leafs’ optional morning skate, putting him line to make his third consecutive start. In his only career start against the Red Wings — and his second career start in the National Hockey League — Stolarz posted a 28-save shutout for the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 11, 2016 … Cam Talbot gets the call in goal for Detroit. He’s 6-3-1 in 12 career games against the Leafs with a .917 save percentage. The Wings recalled goalie Ville Husso from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League to back up Talbot, as Alex Lyon suffered a lower-body injury in practice on Thursday … Ex-Leaf Justin Holl will draw in on the Wings blue line, replacing fellow defenceman Jeff Petry.
The quote
“It’s phenomenal. We love our game and why we think it’s the best in the world. Whether it’s players or builders, how they’ve impacted the game, how they’ve made it what it is today, and how we follow in their footsteps, people that you look up to and idolize, it’s great to have these moments to honour them.”
— Leafs centre John Tavares on playing in the Hockey Hall of Fame game on Friday and the weekend festivities in general
Projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Max Domi-Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves
Defence
Morgan Rielly—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins
Goalies
Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll
The injuries
DET: F Tyler Motte (upper body), G Alex Lyon (lower body); TOR: C Auston Matthews (upper body), F Calle Jarnkrok (lower body), D Dakota Mermis (jaw); D Jani Hakanpaa (knee) and F Connor Dewar (shoulder) are on LTIR conditioning loans with the Toronto Marlies.
The prediction: After a brisk, no-nonsense practice on Thursday, the Leafs keep those good feelings intact from the win against the Bruins. 5-2 Toronto.
X: @koshtorontosun
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