Detroit (7-4-3) at Toronto (2-7-5)

  • Game info: 7:00 pm EST Sat Nov 7, 2009
  • TV: CBC, NHLN

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO, STATS Writer Nov 7, 12:02 am EST

Preview | Box Score | Recap | Highlights
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Several departures and some key absences seem to have played a major role in the Detroit Red Wings’ slow start. They appear to be adapting to the change in game plan, winning a season-high three in a row heading into their lone meeting of the regular season with a longtime rival.

The Red Wings look to continue their strong play Saturday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in an Original Six matchup.

Last season, Detroit (7-4-3) led the NHL with 295 goals and averaged a league-high 3.3 in the playoffs while falling in seven games to Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup finals.

The Red Wings have failed to duplicate that type of production in 2009-10 after losing Marian Hossa(notes) and Mikael Samuelsson(notes) in free agency to Chicago and Vancouver, respectively, while Jiri Hudler(notes) opted to play in Russia. That trio of right wings combined for 82 goals with Hossa accounting for a team-high 40.

The Red Wings are also without Johan Franzen(notes) (knee) and Valtteri Filppula(notes) (wrist) due to long-term injuries.

Those losses have forced coach Mike Babcock to implement a more defensive approach, and it appears to be paying off after opening the season with a 3-4-2 record.

The Red Wings won their third straight and fourth in five games (4-0-1) by beating San Jose 2-1 in a shootout Thursday. They’ve outscored opponents 7-2 during the winning streak, and are in position for their first four-game run since March 14-20.

“We’re not going to win the same way we did before,” Babcock said. “We don’t have the team to do that.”

Henrik Zetterberg(notes) is doing his part to pick up the scoring slack, getting a goal in each of the last two games and three in the last four. The center also had the deciding goal in the tiebreaker Thursday after scoring early in the third period to force overtime.

Another key contributor has been goaltender Chris Osgood(notes), who has allowed only two goals on 84 shots to spur the winning streak. The hot stretch comes after he gave up two goals on four shots and was pulled 7:05 into the first period of a 5-4 win at Vancouver on Oct. 27.

“He gave us confidence to play well in front of him,” Zetterberg said of Osgood’s season-high 33 saves against the Sharks.

The Red Wings opened last season at home by dropping a 3-2 decision to the Maple Leafs on Oct. 9, 2008. Detroit fell 3-2 in overtime during its last visit to Toronto on Feb. 9, 2008.

The Maple Leafs (2-7-5) are looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season after overcoming a two-goal, first-period deficit to beat NHL-worst Carolina 3-2 on Friday. Jason Blake’s(notes) power-play goal with 8:24 left to play gave Toronto the lead for good, as it snapped a four-game slide, during which it got at least a point in each contest.

“Whenever they scored, we seemed to sag at that point - maybe feeling sorry for ourselves,” coach Ron Wilson said. “We have to get mad at some point. I said to the team, ‘We’ve only got one win in 13 games. When’s somebody going to get mad?’”

Wilson may use Jonas Gustavsson(notes) in goal for a second consecutive game after he made 30 saves against the Hurricanes. The rookie is 2-2-3 with a 2.84 goals-against average, while Vesa Toskala(notes) has struggled by going 0-2-2 with a 5.13 GAA in five games.

Updated Nov 7, 12:02 am EST
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Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Detroit 23 11 8 4 26 4th, Central 68 66 4-5-2 Road
Toronto 23 5 11 7 17 5th, Northeast 61 85 2-6-3 Home

Notes

By sweeping the Blue Jackets, the Red Wings became the first team since the 2002 Colorado Avalanche to advance past the conference quarterfinals the season after winning the Stanley Cup. Colorado made it to the conference finals in 2002 before losing to Detroit, which went on to win the championship. But the Red Wings fell to the Vancouver Canucks in the quarterfinals in 2003. Others to fail to advance were the 2004 New Jersey Devils, the 2006 Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2007 Carolina Hurricanes - who did not even qualify for the playoffs - and the 2008 Anaheim Ducks. ... Detroit enjoyed success on the power play, scoring three times on six opportunities. But it was unable to stop Columbus, which went 2-for-2 with the man advantage. ... RW Marian Hossa, who scored a pair of goals, registered a game-high seven shots.

Apr 23, 11:05 pm EDT

C Boyd Devereaux matched his goal output from the rest of the season in the Maple Leafs' final game of the season, notching his second career hat trick. It was the first three-goal effort in more than nine years for the Devereaux, who recorded the first during his rookie season on March 17, 2000. ... With neither the Maple Leafs or Senators qualifying for the postseason, the playoffs will be without a team from Ontario for the first time since 1991-92. ... With LW Niklas Hagman tallying twice on Saturday, the Maple Leafs ended up with five players with 20 or more goals.

Apr 11, 11:28 pm EDT
NHL

83 Comments

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  1. Blue Blood
    83. Posted by Blue Blood Tue Nov 10 7:27pm EST

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    @Post82

    Cu@tbag69

    You are @#$%"ED Nuff said
  2. Cathy P
    82. Posted by Cathy P Tue Nov 10 11:35am EST

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    Hey Laff Blood @ post 81, No i didn't see your little Babe flick but i'm sure if it had piggy's in it you abused yourself! And as for those notches on your belt those are probably from your boy friends yanking your pants down again before they did you.And,HA! HA! thats your obvious category with your little red rump and coke bottled shaped mouth.GO HAROLD BALLARD,BURKE, FERGSON JR.!
  3. Blue Blood
    81. Posted by Blue Blood Tue Nov 10 6:15am EST

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    @Post80

    Cu@tbag69

    You are right I am frightened of women that are xxxxxxxxlg and have trucker mouths like yours Ya Dirty Old Lot Lizard. As for the notches on my belt the best of the best would be proud but sorry Babe(remember the movie babe?) you don't fit into this category. Have fun trolling the lots!!!!
  4. Cathy P
    80. Posted by Cathy P Mon Nov 9 7:16pm EST

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    WOW! Post # 78, Laff Blood, Did you ever shock me with those sexual semantics--"NOT"-- what a" frightned little twit" you are! But let me tell you about "Laff Blood Sex" it's just something he does to himself until he's blue in the face! GO HAROLD BALLARD ,BURKE,FERGUSON JR.!
  5. <i>ky2pac</i>
    79. Posted by ky2pac Mon Nov 9 5:07pm EST

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    I think the leaf have best goal tender in nhl. I am so proud of the rookie gaolie great stuff!!!! Leaf need just one more snipper bring back sundin for good bargin....i think this team going to bounce back big time...go leaf go.....
  6. Blue Blood
    78. Posted by Blue Blood Mon Nov 9 4:35pm EST

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    @Post75 Cu@tbag69

    Cu@tbag when will you comeback with something you thought of yourself?I will leave the kitchen to you in your xxxxxxlg MOO MOO. I know people it's not a pretty sight. That's why the old lot lizard AKA Cu@tbag 69 is constantly out here.It's Retarded Corky like comments are not even welcome on It's beloved HabsBeens sites.Now come on and repeat yourself for the 100 000 000 time.I know someone wrote it all down for you on your box of Ex lax. Just relax and let the Verbal diarrhea flow retard.We all know you have been waiting all day to read this so I was nice enough to give you your fix Ya Dirty Old Lot Lizard.
  7. HotStacey
    77. Posted by HotStacey Mon Nov 9 1:28pm EST

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    Ouch, that was an ugly game...................How many more guys are the Wings going to lose?
  8. Navy Veteran
    76. Posted by Navy Veteran Mon Nov 9 11:53am EST

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    The wings are in need of some quality players....goal tenders as well. They will make it to the play-offs, but will be out in the beginning, probably first round. Let's hope that we can get some talent next year with all the cap space that we will have.
  9. cathypare65
    75. Posted by cathypare65 Mon Nov 9 11:37am EST

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    Laff Blood, "PLEASE Get a grip"! (no not there again, leave it alone.) If you can't stand the heat little boy get out of the kitchen ,back into your Laff jamies and go cry yourself to sleep again! I can't help it if the leafs haven't won a dam thing since Moses was a boy.Face it your horse(the Laffs) are a losing Nag. now c'mon reply to me! I love your little girlie whines! GO HAROLD BALLAD,BURKE,FERGUSON JR.!
  10. DON_DOC_IN
    74. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Mon Nov 9 11:06am EST

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    Wings lose to the Leafs yet some @hole is on here talking of the AVS dominance over the Wings since 2008 opening night? It is amazing the stupid people that come on here. What a tool!
  11. DON_DOC_IN
    73. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Mon Nov 9 8:27am EST

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    @Fat....Must have missed something. Groin injuries? Franzen, Knee. Fillipula, wrist. Willams, leg. Oh, I get it. Your obsession with that region of the male body is just coming through again.. Gotcha!
  12. da fat man
    72. Posted by da fat man Mon Nov 9 6:45am EST

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    This IS gettting ridiculous. All these injuries even have me feeling sorry for the pink wings. They'd better be careful with all the groin pulls that go on in their locker room. Just waiting for Datsuck(the lionheart) to take a couple weeks off with a boo boo on her wittle toe.
  13. Blue Blood
    71. Posted by Blue Blood Mon Nov 9 6:22am EST

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    @Post63 Cu@tbag69

    Why yyou called Laff Abomination. You should lay off the Crack you Crazy Biotch. Everything you say out here is nothing but verbal diarrhea and 90% of your posts contain the exact same content. Is this how your infantile mind gets off. You should see a shrink before you end up hanging yourself.I know it must be difficult mentally being a lot lizard to earn money and going home to the double wide trailer with a drunk wearing a wife beater waiting for you.Now crawl into your closet turn the lights off and cry yourself to sleep.cause no one really cares what you think.
  14. <i>missinglink15332</i>
    70. Posted by missinglink15332 Sun Nov 8 11:59pm EST

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    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Redwings!!! Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  15. cathypare65
    69. Posted by cathypare65 Sun Nov 8 11:13pm EST

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    Whah! Whah! i love it habhatter! where are your team comparisons you like to throw at the wings and other teams ,when it comes to the Habs.I``m not or have not been bragging like you and your disgraceful bunch of Laffs! At least the wings and their fans can remember some cups and personal trophies ,(as can the habs and many other teams) C,mon retard tell us about all the tropies you,ve seen. Make T i don.t often agree with you but the Ole Ole And Sha na na stuff is very unsportsman like and i wish they would stop it ! To all you other insignifigant Laff Delusionals ,your the reason their is so many `` LAFFS`` here on the comedy network! GO HAROLD BALLARD,BURKE`,FERGUSON JR.!
  16. 88
    68. Posted by 88 Sun Nov 8 9:58pm EST

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    @64 66 and 67 Hear hear! I second that nomination by the way @67.
    You need psychological and psychiatric treatment Cathy. What happened to you? Did some person from Toronto sweep you off your feet, and then realize what a freak you are and run for his or her life? And now you take it out on Leafs fans?
    Your team stinks. Please talk about your team in the future OK? Your team is missing Markov, O'Byrne and Gill. They have little scoring. They are small up front. No depth. Goaltending suspect at best. Your GM is a foolish man. Talk about that. And look to get thumped on Tuesday night by Calgary at the Misery Centre, er, the Bell Centre. We will beat Minnesota that same night and move to within three points of Montreal with two games in hand. And we will keep moving up the standings while Montreal continues to spiral downwards.
    Yes, your Canadiens have won many Cups. I know exactly how many but why don't you tell us? And why don't you tell us who wrote that awful book you cited? Let's see what you know. Don't go to Google if you don't know, and please stay off the crack tonight OK? I know it's hard but you can do it. Take a few percs and drink alcohol. So much nicer. Bye honey.
  17. Avs in 10
    67. Posted by Avs in 10 Sun Nov 8 6:32pm EST

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    I hereby nominate "cathypare65" as the worst poster in the universe.

    Congratulations in advance for your landslide victory.
  18. Mike T
    66. Posted by Mike T Sun Nov 8 6:26pm EST

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    Cathy

    Let me echo some words you and your fellow Hab fans are so familiar with

    OLE OLE OLE OLE...... OLE OLE..... OLE OLE OLE OLE..... OLE OLE!!

    BTW how did did those Habs fair against Tampa anyways?
  19. cathypare65
    65. Posted by cathypare65 Sun Nov 8 5:10pm EST

    Report Abuse

    At post 64 ,Sorry Laff - Dyke from a bar i don't do Dyke's!
  20. Johndyke Bar
    64. Posted by Johndyke Bar Sun Nov 8 5:03pm EST

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    @ cathypare65

    ..you should go see a doctor
  21. cathypare65
    63. Posted by cathypare65 Sun Nov 8 3:51pm EST

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    OKay Laff Abomination ,You wat to know why he's called " LAFF BLOOD" !! It was on a beautiful day last May and Laff Blood was merrily skipping behind his dollcart in which was his proud collection of Laff dollies.On the cart his little Laff flag flew proudly.In his curly hair he wore his Laff ribbons .He turned a corner and yikes there were the neighbourhood bullies! (2 girls aged 10 and 12.) They proceeded to beat him like Probert on Aki Berg!! Laff Blood waddled home as best he could, had the Laff banner extracted from his rectal area and bent over to cry.Just then one of his little Laff ribbons fell from his curls, bloodied on the ground in front of him.(from a laceration recieved from a conked dollie!) that is the sad and tragic reason he,s known as "LAFF BLOOD"! Now i suppose you want to know why youy called "LAFF ABOMINATION!! GO HAROLD BALLARD,BURKE,ERGUSON JR.!
  22. dropthegloves
    62. Posted by dropthegloves Sun Nov 8 3:32pm EST

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    Bad news. Wings are riddled with injuries. No J Franzen, V Filppula and now J Williams will be out at least 2 months. Who is next? Avs, Coyotes, and Kings are makings some noises. They might not win a Stanley Cup this year, but they will surprise a lot of people. Who would have thought Craig Anderson was a good goalie? What about Ilya Bryzalov? He already had 3 shutout. Bankcrupcy judge has approved the sale of Coyotes to the NHL, and they are looking for buyers. When the Kings played against Coyotes on Monday 11/2/09, the attendant was 6,555 or maybe less. Kings won 5-3. Ducks went there on Sat 10/31/09 the attendant was 5,850. 5,800 was the smallest crowd. Any way, Ducks lost in a shootout 3-2 if I am not mistaken. Speaking of Ducks, they beat Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 last night at Honda Center in Anaheim. Ducks are 6-7-2, 14 points dead last, Kings are 10-5-2, 22 points 2nd, Coyotes are 10-7-0, 20 points. Kings will go on the road for 5 games starting at Windy City Mon 11/9/09. Kings will play on Nov 11, Veterans' Day. Happy Veterans Day everybody. Go Kings!
  23. cathypare65
    61. Posted by cathypare65 Sun Nov 8 3:18pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey ,Habhatter, Why don't you show us those same stats but only ,Habs and LAFFS instead? You probably think reading in the bathroom is mult-itasking! And Laff Blood don"t go outside with your little Laff dollies bragging and get beat up by the neighbourhood girls again!
  24. 88
    60. Posted by 88 Sun Nov 8 3:11pm EST

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    @44 Blue Blood and @43 Guy F.
    I have to disagree with you Blue Blood about Razor getting shoddy treatment in Toronto. He got what he deserved. You know he stank through much of his final year. Horrendous job. I think it is astounding he is still in the NHL and Gillis gave him another chance in Vancouver after he blew it in Denver.
    Toskala. His days are numbered. As Guy F. rightly notes he is a UFA after this year, commands $4 mill. a year and has never been a #1 goalie in his career until he came to Toronto and we have seen what that has resulted in. His confidence is utterly shot. Chatter is he might go back to Finland after this year is out. I think he might do well for the Helsinki Hellcats in Finland's best beer league. He's 32 and done. Two surgeries last year and I thought he would be OK. I was WRONG! This guy is a stiff.
    If a GM is desperate why not grab a guy like Legace or Fernandez who I believe are still out there. Plenty of goalies at the dime a dozen goalie store.
    Love the friendly banter between Blue Blood and that little sweetheart CathyPare65. You in the midst of menopause Cathy? Old age, wrinkles, crinkles and sadness hitting hard? What is wrong with you man? You are one seriously screwed up creature. You say the exact same thing every freakin' post you write. Exactly. And what exactly is LaffBlood? And what team do you like? Oh, why do I bother? You are not worth it at all.
  25. 88
    59. Posted by 88 Sun Nov 8 2:53pm EST

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    @33 Blue Blood. Outstanding bro'! "What planet did you drop in from?" Love it! Too funny.
    coho97 You are a profound dumbass. Leafs all-time against the Wings 275-274-81 Two more Cups won and more to come for us. Your team is on the way down, way way way down. The Dead Things will be returning soon enough. We're on the way up. Fast. We'll be the next Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup. Book it. Mark it. Remember that. You heard it here first and no I am not delusional. It is our time.
    @25 Sharkboy. The Leafs are a joke team? Really? What does that make the San Jose Sharks? They remind me of a somebody who likes to play cards, wins all the time when there is no money on the table, great, outstanding, BUT when the money IS on the table and things COUNT bye bye! That in a nutshell is your joke of a team. Who's going to KO them in the playoffs this year? I really hope it will be the Ducks again.
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