GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs look to spoil McLellan’s debut in Detroit

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Published Dec 26, 2024  •  3 minute read

Los Angeles Kings head coach Todd McLellan watches his team's NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks in Los Angeles, Nov. 25, 2019. Photo by Michael Owen Baker /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Toronto Maple Leafs (21-12-4) vs. Detroit Red Wings (13-17-4)

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When: Friday, 7 p.m., Little Caesars Arena

TV: SNO Radio: The Fan 590

Odds: Maple Leafs -172, Red Wings +139

The buzz

The Maple Leafs will be on the other side as the Red Wings begin a new era with coach Todd McLellan, who was hired on Thursday after Derek Lalonde was fired. The Wings also hired Trent Yawney to be an assistant coach and fired associate coach Bob Boughner. The firings of Lalonde and Boughner shouldn’t take away from the fact that general manager Steve Yzerman has not built a roster that anyone would confuse with a Stanley Cup contender … If you’re upset that the Leafs lost two in a row going into the Christmas break, think of how it must feel to be a Red Wings fan right now. The Wings lost three in a row heading into the break and were outscored 13-4, bringing Lalonde’s tenure to an end … In its past 12, Detroit is 3-7-2, though one of its wins was a 4-2 victory at home against the Leafs on Dec. 14. Yzerman’s group has fallen to 15th in the Eastern Conference and is a conference-worst minus-23 in goal differential. Can McLellan work a miracle and make the Wings relevant again? We say no, not this season … The Wings’ 88 goals are third-fewest in the NHL, more than only Nashville (84) and Anaheim (82) … Detroit went into the break 12th overall on the power play (22.5%), with captain Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat each scoring six power-play goals to lead the Wings. Toronto is 18th on the power play. Seven of William Nylander’s team-high 23 goals have been scored with a man advantage. Nylander’s next power-play goal will be his 70th with the Leafs, a mark reached by only five players in team history … The Leafs against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday despite limiting the Jets to 33 shot attempts at five-on-five, tying for the fewest the Leafs have allowed in a game in 2024-25. At 45.9%, the Wings are one of the worst teams in possession at five-on-five, ahead of only San Jose (44.9%) and Chicago (45.3%) … Detroit’s penalty kill (68.8%) is better than only the New York Islanders (64.4%). Toronto is eighth at 82.5% … David Kampf’s next game will be his 500th in the NHL.

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The news

The Leafs on Thursday recalled goalie Matt Murray from the Toronto Marlies and sent Dennis Hildeby to their American Hockey League affiliate … At his first availability since Monday afternoon, Leafs coach Craig Berube on Friday morning should provide updates on captain Auston Matthews and Chris Tanev. Matthews’ participation is in question after he missed the last two games before the break because his upper-body injury flared up, while Tanev was a late scratch against Winnipeg on Monday because of a lower-body injury, suffered in the Leafs’ previous game.

The quote

“Between the Christmas break and the 4 Nations break, there are going to be some important games and then after that, you’re right in a dog fight to the end. We find ourselves in a position where we have to play some good hockey.”

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— Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly on the Leafs’ 20 games (10 at home, 10 on the road) from Dec. 27-Feb. 8

The poll

Which Leafs forward do you think is the most primed to have a big second half production-wise?

1. Nick Robertson
2. Max Domi
3. Bobby McMann
4. Max Pacioretty

The projected Leafs lineup

Forwards

Matthew Knies-John Tavares-Mitch Marner

Nick Robertson-Max Domi-William Nylander

Bobby McMann-David Kampf-Max Pacioretty

Steven Lorentz-Pontus Holmberg-Connor Dewar

Defence

Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers

Jake McCabe—Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins

Goal

Joseph Woll

Matt Murray

The injuries

TOR: C Auston Matthews (upper body), G Anthony Stolarz (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), D Chris Tanev (lower body).

DET: D Simon Edvinsson (upper body), D Ben Chiarot (upper body).

The prediction

The Leafs resume play on the right foot. 4-1 final in Toronto’s favour.

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X: @koshtorontosun

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