Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs, Preseason Game #8

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto, ON

Broadcast/Streaming: Sportsnet, Sportsnet 1, NHLN-US

Opponent SBNation Site: Winging It In Motown

At long last, we’re at the end of the preseason.  One more game, a few days off, and then the real thing starts on October 4th.  Oh baby.

This is the second game of a preseason home-and-home against the Wings; the Leafs triumphed in a matchup of approximately NHL lineups last night, downing Detroit 4-2 in the new Little Casesar’s arena.  You can read our full recap of the action here.

We’re looking at an AHL-heavy lineup for this game:

The training camp battles for third-pair LD and fourth-line centre still seem to be open.  Both Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman had mixed evenings last night, while they try to cut it as NHL defenders.  Travis Dermott is still here after a good preseason, but I’m not sure he’s going to get onto the Leafs’ roster this time.  Watch out next season, though.

On the centre front, Moore impressed as a penalty killer last game, which is one of his prime qualifications for getting the job over Miro Aaltonen.  On the other hand, that Leivo-Aaltonen-Kapanen line could be a very dangerous fourth line offensively.

Detroit is heading into what looks to be a painful rebuild, but if they play some hungry AHLers, they’re going to put up a fight.  The Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit’s AHL affiliate) won the Calder Cup last year, and the Red Wings themselves jumped the Leafs in the period last night before Toronto steadied itself.  Play like you mean it, guys.

Anyway.  One more warm-up and it’s showtime.  Let’s go.

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