Red Wings 1 - 4 Maple Leafs
Final
  for this game

Leafs shoot for another win over Red Wings

Dec 13, 2014 - 4:09 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to beat the Detroit Red Wings for the second time this week when the Original Six rivals meet Saturday at Air Canada Centre.

Toronto, which has won three straight and five of its last six outings, posted a 2-1 shootout victory Wednesday night in Detroit and will try to pick up another win against the Red Wings on home ice.

Wednesday's victory was Toronto's second straight against Detroit since losing the first two meetings of the season series. The clubs are meeting tonight for the fifth and final time in the 2014-15 regular season.

Mike Santorelli scored in the final round of the shootout to lead Toronto to the recent victory in the Motor City. With the final attempt, Santorelli skated in on net and buried a wrister between the pads of Jimmy Howard for the win.

Phil Kessel had the goal in regulation for the Maple Leafs, while James Reimer stopped 41 shots in the win.

"We weren't at our best tonight, but we stood up to the challenge," said Santorelli.

The Maple Leafs will aim for their first four-game winning streak since recording six straight wins from Jan. 12-21 of last season.

Detroit, which outshot Toronto by a 42-19 margin, hopes it can convert more scoring opportunities in Saturday's rematch.

"They stole two points but I'll take it every night. If you play like that you're going to win," said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock of Wednesday's game.

While Toronto has been idle since that win, the Red Wings hosted Florida on Friday and suffered another shootout loss. Roberto Luongo stopped 29 shots in regulation and both Detroit chances in the shootout to lift the Panthers to the 3-2 win at Joe Louis Arena.

Riley Sheahan and Gustav Nyquist picked up a goal each for the Red Wings and Howard stopped 24 shots in the loss.

After Pavel Datsyuk failed in his bid to open the shootout, Trocheck solved Howard with a wrister after several stick fakes. Nyquist then lost control of the puck while attempting a deke in front and Luongo swept the chance away. Brandon Pirri then ended the contest with another successful shot.

The loss dropped the Red Wings to 1-5 in shootouts this season.

"When we get to a shootout we're not a confident group," Babcock said. "We have to fight through it and find a way to win one."

Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser sat out Friday's test and is expected to miss another game tonight. Forward Stephen Weiss also is expected to miss Saturday with a shoulder injury suffered in the second period against the Panthers.

Petr Mrazek will start in goal for the Red Wings. The 22-year-old is 3-0 this season with a 2.59 goals against average.

Detroit is 6-3-3 on the road this season. The Wings open a four-game homestand Tuesday night against Columbus.






Related News