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Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Another Tough Test Against the Detroit Red Wings

By David Morassutti

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Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview: Another Tough Test Against the Detroit Red Wings

We have all waited patiently and now it is time to drop the puck on a new season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Here at the Tip of the Tower we strive to give you as much content on your Toronto sports teams as humanly possible. This series will preview every single Toronto Maple Leafs game and what you should know for the game that night.

Detroit Red Wings (10-4-5) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (10-8-2), 7:00 p.m on CBC.

Detroit is 2-0 against Toronto this season, winning the last game 1-0 in overtime.

More from Tip of the Tower

Leafs Injury Report

Brandon Kozun is out with a high ankle sprain.

David Booth is probable with a broken foot.

Joffrey Lupul is out with a broken hand (likely to return Wednesday).

Projected Line Combinations (Leafs)

Red Wings Injury Report

Pavel Datsyuk day-to-day with a groin injury.

Ben Smith out with a hand injury.

Jonas Gustavsson out with a shoulder injury.

Projected Line Combinations (Red Wings)

Game Preview

Nov 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) celebrates after scoring his first goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs found a way to end their three-game losing streak on Thursday, with a convincing 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. However the team has a long road to redemption after they were previously embarrassed 6-2 against the Buffalo Sabres and 9-2 against the Nashville Predators. Hopefully Thursday’s win over Tampa Bay allows the Leafs to understand what the team has to do to beat a top team. James van Riemsdyk had two goals in the game – he has been going through an up and down season, but it could be a nice time for him to produce more offensively.

Oct 18, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Henrik Zetterberg (40) and Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) battle for the puck in overtime at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 1-0 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Wings will present a tough test for the Leafs and it looks like their move to the Eastern Conference has been a nightmare for the Leafs. Detroit have won their last five games against the Leafs. Toronto understands that the Red Wings embarrassed them at home the last time they meet at the ACC, losing 4-1 (I was in attendance for that one). The Leafs responded with a better effort, but lost in overtime with under 10 seconds left. Henrik Zetterberg has been a Leafs killer in his last five games, scoring two goals and adding seven assists.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Phil Kessel career vs Detroit: 12 GP – 4 goals – 5 assists – 9 PTS

James Van Riemsdyk career vs Detroit: 8 GP – 3 goals – 1 assist – 4 PTS

Tyler Bozak career vs Detroit: 6 GP – 1 goal – 0 assists – 1 PT

Nazem Kadri career vs Detroit: 8 GP – 1 goal – 0 assists – 1 PT

Jonathan Bernier career vs Detroit: 5 GS (games started) – 2 W – 2 L – 12 OTL- 2.73 GAA- ,912 sv%

Detroit Red Wings

Dec 21, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk (13) looks for the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Detroit defeated Toronto 5-4 in an overtime shoot out. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Henrik Zetterberg career vs Toronto: 10 GP – 7 goals – 8 assists – 14 PTS

Pavel Datsyuk career vs Toronto: 11 GP- 2 goal- 12 assists- 13 PTS

Gustav Nyquist career vs Toronto: 5 GP – 4 goals – 2 assist – 6 PTS

Johan Franzen career vs Toronto: 6 GP – 2 goals – 4 assists – 6 PTS

Jimmy Howard career vs Toronto: 6GP- 3 wins- 1 loss- 1 OTL

Keys to Victory

Oct 17, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Mike Santorelli (25) scores past Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Leafs have to avoid making individual mistakes that end up in the back of the net. They have to be more disciplined and support each other if their teammate makes a mistake. Good teams do not let one teammate’s mistake cost them a victory. Too many times the Leafs have not done enough to make sure a mistake does not dictate the way they play their game.

Oct 21, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock reacts during the third period against Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Wings play a well structured game. Mike Babcock has done a great job as the coach, but the Leafs have to force the Red Wings off their game. They need to avoid giving Detroit a majority of the time in the offensive zone, where they ate the Leafs alive in their 4-1 victory. They need to support the puck and be relentless in their puck pursuit.

The Leafs need to set the tone physically at the start of the game and let the Red Wings know that they are going to be in for a long night. The Detroit forwards like to make creative plays so Toronto have to be aware of who is on the ice.

Nov 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Richard Panik (18) scores a goal past Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) in the first period at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Lightning 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Leafs did a good job forcing Tampa Bay to make mistakes with the puck. The Red Wings do not make those types of mistakes, but if the Leafs can take advantage of the odd giveaway it will give them confidence to stick to their system. If things do not go the Leafs way to start the game, they have to stick together as a team and avoid being frantic when things do not go their way. Toronto have a tendency to make ill-advised plays because they try to do to much.

Nov 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51) tries to control the puck in front of Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Lightning 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Bernier has to make the big saves early for the Leafs. He cannot let in a soft early goal, because it will sink the Leafs confidence, Against the Lightning, he made a big save early and it sparked the team to play their hearts out. When your goalie play lights out, it sends a message to the team that you have their back and it is up to them to go out and do what you need to win. If your goalie lets in a soft goal to start the game, your teammates feel like they have to lay back and try to play safer rather than play with more push.

Nov 14, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel (81) gets by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Paul Martin (7) during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

If the Leafs do not come away with the win it is more important to play with pride and energy, because fans will respect a decent effort instead of what happened against Buffalo and Nashville. Randy Carlyle has to make sure that his team is disciplined and ready to bring the fight early and often. The Leafs have had many distractions with the media this week with the Phil Kessel situation, the jersey throwing and the whole issue with not saluting the crowd (which I think is idiotic to bring up).  It is all nonsense and it is up to the players to treat it as unnecessary noise that must not affect their mentality going into the game. They should only be concerned with the way they play every night.

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