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GAME INFO
Purple Wings 4-2-1, third within the Atlantic Division
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at Maple Leafs, 3-4-1, fifth within the Atlantic.
Tonight, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Area
TV: Sportsnet, Radio: FAN 590
Headline: Hockeytown again on the map
After three years of first-round eliminations, then the previous 5 with no playoff spot in any respect, fortunes may very well be altering in Detroit. A superb begin, during which they’ve gained just a few tight video games, has given coach Jeff Blashill some optimism and saved the warmth off after common supervisor Steve Yzerman bucked public sentiment to go in one other course and preserve Blashill one other 12 months.
The play of Dylan Larkin, who had the come-from-behind extra time winner earlier this week in opposition to Washington, suits that development, in addition to the youthful Wings being the division’s greatest shot blocking workforce previous to Friday’s residence recreation in opposition to Florida.
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Factors leaders
Toronto
GP G A P
William Nylander 8 3 3 6 -1
John Tavares 8 2 2 4 -3
Michael Bunting 8 2 2 4 -1
Detroit
Tyler Bertuzzi 6 6 3 9 +8
Dylan Larkin 6 3 5 8 +6
Lucas Raymond 7 4 4 8 +5
Three issues concerning the Purple Wings
1. The Leafs will face the league’s prime two scoring rookies in Raymond and German-born Moritz Seider, the latter tied with Anaheim’s Jamie Drysdale for the freshman lead in time on ice per recreation (21:51).
2. Toronto can be spared from shadowing Wings main level man Bertuzzi, whose refusal to get vaccinated leaves him unable to play video games in Canada for a second time this 12 months.
3. Preliminary plans have been for Detroit to make use of Alex Nedeljkovic in internet Friday in a non-divisional match in opposition to the Panthers, which seemingly means Thomas Greiss versus Toronto. Petr Mrazek is again within the Toronto internet after a two-week groin damage layoff to face his draft workforce.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Energy play
Toronto 12.0% (twenty sixth)
Detroit 14.8% (twenty third)
Penalty kill
Toronto 85.2% (tenth)
Detroit 72.4% (twenty seventh)
lhornby@postmedia.com
