Toronto Maple Leafs @ Detroit Red Wings
07:00 PM at Little Caesars Arena
Watch on: TVAS, SNO, FDSNDET

The Leafs last game was at home on December 23 against the Winnipeg Jets, which Toronto lost by a score of 5-2 in regulation. The Leafs have a record of 21-12-2 for a 0.629 Points %.

The Detroit Red Wings last played at home on December 23 against the St. Louis Blues. The Red Wings lost by a score of 4-0 in regulation, and their current league record is 13-17-4 for a 0.441 Points %.

Them

Who knows what Todd McLellan will do after one morning (or afternoon) skate, but so far this season the Red Wings are pretty easy to understand. They never have the puck, but they do get a very gentle increase in the effectiveness of their shots for and against by quality. They have bad goaltending and bad shooting. Some of that might be luck, but the result is bad.

The only thing they're good at is the power play (Dylan Larkin) and they've fallen off in that regard since their early season dominance. They are just mediocre. Still their best event, though. Cam Talbot has been very good, their only other bright spot.

Their entire offence is Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond. And I'm just going to point at Justin Holl on the top pair in their last game. That's desperation talking. Simon Edvinsson and Ben Chiarot were both skating today, so Holl might be back in the press box. Who does that? Scratches a guy or plays him top pair?

Lines

Ansar Khan via Daily Faceoff from the last game so subject to change. Detroit had a skate, but it focused on special teams, it seems.

Vladimir Tarasenko - Dylan Larkin - Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat - Andrew Copp - Patrick Kane
Michael Rasmussen - J.T. Compher - Christian Fischer
Joe Veleno - Marco Kasper - Jonatan Berggren

Justin Holl - Moritz Seider
Erik Gustafsson - Jeff Petry
William Lagesson - Albert Johansson

Cam Talbot - starter
Alex Lyon

Us

What is up with the Leafs? Not the shots for, that's for sure.

They've been going through some things. What those things are is as vague in cause as whatever "it" is that's wrong with Auston Matthews. He is not playing today or tomorrow.

All I wanted for Christmas was for Chris Tanev to spend three days with an ice pack on whatever he hurt against the Islanders because this business of Phil Myers either sitting in the press box or playing top pair (by the lineup card) is getting old.

What I got was Tanev back and Myers still on the top pair. Guess I should have been more specific with Santa. Maybe we should see if Detroit will trade Justin Holl.

Lines

David Alter from this morning.

Max Pacioretty - John Tavares - Mitch Marner
Matthew Knies- Pontus Holmberg - William Nylander
Bobby McMann - Max Domi - Nicholas Robertson
Steven Lorentz - David Kämpf - Connor Dewar

Morgan Rielly - Philippe Myers
Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Simon Benoit

Joe Woll - presumed starter
Matt Murray

The Game

Ruin Todd McLellan's first day, that's the entire job.

Game Coverage