Game Preview: Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 01/14/2024

The Detroit Red Wings are coming off a win over the Kings last night, 5-3, while the Maple Leafs are coming off a 5-3 loss against the Avalanche last night.

Detroit Red Wings (21-16-5, 47 Points) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (21-11-8, 50 Points)

When: Sunday, January 14
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, ON)
TV: Bally Sports Detroit

Scoring Leaders

Detroit Red Wings

Points: Alex DeBrincat – 39
Goals: Alex DeBrincat – 17
Assists: Alex DeBrincat – 22

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: William Nylander – 57
Goals: Auston Matthews – 33
Assists: William Nylander – 36

Expected Line Combinations

Detroit Red Wings

David Perron – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – J.T. Compher – Patrick Kane
Michael Rasmussen – Andrew Copp – Christian Fischer  
Robby Fabbri -Joe Veleno – Daniel Sprong
Shayne Gostisbehere – Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot – Jeff Petry
Olli Maatta – Justin Holl

Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthew Knies – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner
Tyler Bertuzzi – John Tavares – William Nylander
Pontus Holmberg – Max Domi – Calle Jarnkrok
Bobby McMann – David Kampf – Noah Gregor
Morgan Reilly – T.J. Brodie
Simon Benoit – Jake McCabe
Mark Giordano – Timothy Liljegren

By The Numbers:

League Ranking

Detroit Red Wings

PP%: 21.7 (15)
PK%: 80.1 (14)
GF P/G: 3.55 (6)
GA P/G: 3.38 (24)
Faceoff %: 50.0 (16)

Toronto Maple Leafs

PP%: 26.5 (6)
PK%: 76.7 (25)
GF P/G: 3.55 (4)
GA P/G: 3.23 (20)
Faceoff %: 53.5 (6)

Red Wings Player to Watch: Dylan Larkin

This season, Larkin has played in 36 games, recording 36 points on 16 goals and 20 assists. He is second on the team in points and goals and fourth in assists. He has 16 points on the power play, six goals, and ten assists. He has five points on three goals and two assists in his last five games.

Larkin’s Line Assignments

Larkin is playing on the first line alongside David Perron and Lucas Raymond. He will also play on the first power play unit with Perron, Raymond, J.T. Compher, and Shayne Gostisbehere.

Larkin’s career vs. Toronto

Larkin, in his career against the Maple Leafs, has played in 25 games and has 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists. He didn’t record a point in the matchup earlier this season.

Between The Pipes

Detroit: James Reimer (3-6-2, 3.42 GAA)

Reimer last played on December 27^th against Minnesota and took the loss, allowing six goals on 31 shots. In his career against the Maple Leafs, he is 1-2-0 in seven games allowing 18 goals on 103 shots.

Toronto: Ilya Samsonov (5-2-6, 3.94 GAA)

Samsonov last started on December 29^th against Columbus, and he suffered the loss in overtime, giving up six goals on 21 shots. In his career against Detroit, he is 4-2-0 in six appearances and has allowed 11 goals on 137 shots.

Wrap Up

The Red Wings got a much-needed two points last night and, entering tonight’s game, trail the Islanders by one point for the final playoff spot. A win tonight and those crucial two points would move Detroit into the playoff spot, but that won’t be easy against a very talented Toronto Maple Leafs team. 

In their last ten games against Toronto, the Red Wings are 2-8-0 and have been outscored 43-30 in those ten games. The Red Wings lost the earlier matchup 3-2 in Sweden.

ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris to discuss WHL expansion, Thatcher Demko returning from IR, Gabe Viladri out week-to-week, Gabriel Landeskog a full practice participant, and the NHL referees stopping a goalie fight. Join in on all this and MUCH more!

1. ITR 31: Let Them Fight 01:03:52
2. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
3. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
4. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07
5. ITR 27: Trade Season Begins 01:07:33