> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Preview: Leafs in Detroit - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/preview-leafs-in-detroit-2/ - Published: 2024-12-14T17:28:23.000Z - Updated: 2024-12-14T21:45:14.000Z - Description: It's yet another back-to-back. - Author: Cathy Squires - Tags: Game Coverage ### Toronto Maple Leafs @ Detroit Red Wings 07:00 PM at Little Caesars Arena Watch on: SN, NHLN, CBC, FDSNDET The Leafs last game was at home on December 12 against the Anaheim Ducks, which Toronto won by a score of 3-2 in regulation. The Leafs have a record of 18-9-2 for a 0.655 Points %. The Detroit Red Wings last played away on December 12 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Red Wings lost by a score of 4-1 in regulation, and their current league record is 11-14-4 for a 0.448 Points %. ### Them To review the Red Wings, since the last time where John Tavares got two in a 3-1 win, they are bad at five-on-five but have a very good power play. Dylan Larkin scored on the power play in that game in November. Cam Talbot is their good goalie, getting them a lot of their results. Alex Lyon has been okay, and Ville Husso has been very bad in seven starts. > Derek Lalonde says Cam Talbot unavailable for Saturday, left practice today with re-aggravated lower-body injury. Ville Husso starts vs. Maple Leafs, call-up TBD for backup. Alex Lyon not expected back before Wednesday. > > — Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) [December 13, 2024](https://twitter.com/HeleneStJames/status/1867636064321777871?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### Lines Ansar Khan via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/detroit-red-wings/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Michael Rasmussen - Dylan Larkin - Lucas Raymond Alex DeBrincat - Marco Kasper - Patrick Kane Vladimir Tarasenko - J.T. Compher - Andrew Copp Jonatan Berggren - Joe Veleno - Christian Fischer Simon Edvinsson - Moritz Seider Ben Chiarot - Jeff Petry Erik Gustafsson - Justin Holl Ville Husso Jack Campbell ### Us Anthony Stolarz is day-to-day, so Joe Woll is joined by Dennis Hildeby, recalled yesterday. Stolarz is not going to play this weekend and someone had to come off to make room for Hildeby and someone else has to come off to make room for McMann. As of now, it's not confirmed if Stolarz went on IR, which means he is missing one week from the date of the injury, or if someone like Nikita Grebenkin has been sent down. Possibly both, as McMann is confirmed to be in the lineup. #### Lines David Alter via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/toronto-maple-leafs/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner Max Pacioretty - John Tavares - William Nylander Bobby McMann - Fraser Minten - Max Domi Pontus Holmberg - Connor Dewar - Steven Lorentz Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev Morgan Rielly - Oliver Ekman-Larsson Simon Benoit - Conor Timmins Joe Woll - starter Dennis Hildeby ### The Game I want to contextualize the difference between a team at 15th or so in Corsi or Expected Goals at even strength and one near the bottom. Sometimes I think we lead ourselves astray with the ranked lists of team quality – you know, like at the draft. Toronto: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2024/12/Capture-5-1.PNG) Detroit: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2024/12/Capture2.PNG) Toronto is better, but the difference is small and well within the margin for goalies, special teams and randomness to swing the game one way or the other on any given night. Deciding that bottom feeders are extremely bad so you can deride them is really just the first step in being angry three hours later because the Leafs didn't dominate and win 9-2 or maybe even got beat. The Red Wings are pretty much as bad as Montréal in the fundamentals of hockey, but they have one good goalie and a very good power play, which makes them a very different team to play – no matter what the standings say.