LGD: Detroit Mock City

Photo Credit: Dan HamiltonUSA TODAY SPORTS

I can’t believe that the Red Wings are still talking about this team in a competitive context. Yes, I’m aware they’re only four points back of the Maple Leafs (with three more games played), but this is also a team that’s getting outscored by half a goal a game and being occasionally bailed out by a handful of decent players.

I guess they don’t mind though, as long as “the streak”, which has basically become “make it in by a point and get dummied in the first round” continues, the front office and the fans will be happy.

Anyway, that should realistically be the Leafs’ gain tonight when they walk into the Joe to take them on.

Toronto Maple Leafs lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff

Business as usual in this post-Morgan Rielly society. He should be back next week, though tomorrow hasn’t been ruled out entirely.

Detroit Red Wings lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff

That bottom six though, that, well, almost the entire defensive core though. It’s worth noting that the Wings are missing some core players: Brendan Smith, Jimmy Howard, Thomas Vanek, Dylan Larkin, and Steve Ott (lol) are all out with injuries.

Frederik Andersen will get the nod tonight after shutting out the Flames. At least, that’s the safe bet; we haven’t received 100% confirmation just yet. Andersen’s performance put him back above 0.900 on the month; hopefully he keeps trending upward.

Petr Mrazek is expected to start for the Red Wings, though it’s possible that Jared Coreau goes in. Either way, you’re facing a goalie we thought was good but is actually struggling or an older rookie who got lit up in the last matchup. 

Expect this game to be much faster paced than the last one, mostly because they’re playing in an actual hockey rink rather than an outdoor surface in the middle of a soccer field during the winter. That probably plays to the Leafs advantage, though I hope they’re ready for the extra gear they’ll see out of Andreas Athanasiou and Darren Helm.

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