The Detroit Red Wings (1-1) play a Canadian Thanksgiving Day matinee game today on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs (1-1):
Where: Scotiabank Arena
When: 2 p.m.
TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network/97.1 FM
Odds: Toronto (-1.5, +135), Detroit (+1.5,-160) ESPNBet
Hot: Patrick Kane boasts a goal and three assists in his first two games of the season. He needs 28 points to pass Mike Modano to become the highest scoring NHL player born in America.
Not: Michael Rasmussen has averaged 10:45 minutes over Detroit’s first two games and he’s minus-three with two shots on goal.
Spotlight: Alex DeBrincat has been a bit unlucky in Detroit’s first two games, registering eight shots on goal without scoring. He does have three assists.
Absence: Veteran James van Riemsdyk, signed as a free agent in the offseason, is expected to play his first game for the Red Wings. That would make Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Soderblom healthy scratches.
Story: The Red Wings downed the Maple Leafs 6-3 Saturday when they played in Detroit,,. Kane needs seven goals for 500 in his career… After finishing last in penalty killing last season, the Red Wings have given up one goal in five shorthanded opportunities (80% efficiency) in their first two games. Rookie defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka doesn’t yet have his first NHL point but is averaging better than 20 minutes per game and he’s even in plus-minus and owns four shots on goal… Detroit’s Grand Rapids farm team has started the AHL season 2-0.
Detroit Projected Lines
Emmitt Finnie — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond
Patrick Kane — Marco Kasper — Alex DeBrincat
Andrew Copp — J.T. Compher — Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
James van Riemsdyk — Michael Rasmussen — Mason Appleton
Defensive Pairings
Ben Chiarot — Moritz Seider
Simon Edvinsson — Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Jacob Bernard-Docker — Albert Johansson
Goalie
Cam Talbot (John Gibson is backup)
Toronto
Story: Toronto coach Craig Berube said the Maple Leafs beat themselves in their 6-3 loss to Detroit. Berube said. “Not that Detroit didn’t, they played well. But we were right there with them, got the lead, and we came out in the second and didn’t play the way we should have played.”… Toronto’s injury report: Scott Laughton (lower body), Steven Lorentz (upper body)… Easton Cowan (28th, 2023) will be making his NHL debut. He scored 29 goals for the London Knights last season.
Projected Lines
Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Easton Cowan
Matias Maccelli — John Tavares — William Nylander
Nicholas Robertson — Max Domi — Bobby McMann
Dakota Joshua — Nicolas Roy — Calle Jarnkrok
Defensive Pairings
Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Simon Benoit
Goalies
Anthony Stolarz (Cayden Primeau is backup) (Unconfirmed)