How to Watch
Start time: 7:00pm
TV: CBC, NHL Network
Radio: Sportsnet 590
SB Nation Site: Winging it in Motown
This is the fifth (and last) game of the season between Toronto and Detroit. This time, Detroit is on the back half of a back-to-back. In case you forgot, the last time the Leafs played the Wings, they didn't play particularly well, surrendered 42 shots, put up a 23.7% Corsi, and had to rely on James Reimer to win. We'll see if the Leafs can look a little more alive this time around. Bernier is getting the start after Reimer tweaked his groin "a little" in practice yesterday. Knowing the Leafs' history regarding injuries, that's not exactly a comforting statement. Franson also left the morning skate early, and no one really knows why, so keep an eye out for that. It doesn't look like there will be any lineup changes beyond that.
Randy Carlyle had some thoughts about the season thus far, including this quote, so at least the coaching staff is aware of the problem:
"I don't like to compare last year because we all know what happened in the end," said Carlyle, "and that's really what we're trying to guard against in this situation. We can't accept what's happening, but we'll accept the points. Nobody is going to say 'no we don't want the points' but we understand that there is a better and more productive way for us to have long-term success. We have to change some of the things that are happening out there."
I have no idea what the lines are, so I'm just going to take them from David Alter and call it a day:
James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel
Daniel Winnik - Nazem Kadri - Mike Santorelli
Joffrey Lupul - Peter Holland - David Clarkson
David Booth - Trevor Smith - Richard Pank
Dion Phaneuf - Cody Franson
Jake Gardiner - Korbinian Holzer
Morgan Rielly - Stephan Robidas
Know Your Enemy
The Red Wings are currently tied for first in the Atlantic with a 17-6-7 record. This is their third game in four days. They lost 3-2 in a shootout yesterday against the Florida Panthers. Stephen Weiss left the game last night after taking a hit from David Bolland (lol). Danny DeKeyser was injured in the Leafs game is also out. Finally, Justin Abdelkater is still out with a shoulder injury. Leafs will also face Detroit's backup, Petr Mrazek.
Other things:
Henrik Zetterberg leads the team in points, with 26.
Pavel Datsyuk has 23 points in 19 games and has a ridiculous 25% SH%.
Tomas Jurco is leading the team with a 60.8% Corsi.
Here are Detroit's projected lines (via)
Gustav Nyquist - Henrik Zetterberg - Tomas Jurco
Tomas Tatar - Pavel Datsyuk - Darren Helm
Johan Franzen - Riley Sheahan - Daniel Cleary
Drew Miller - Luke Glendening - Joakim Andersson
Brendan Smith - Kyle Quincey
Xavier Ouellet - Brian Lashoff
Niklas Kronwall - Jonathan Ericsson