Maple Leafs at Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings attempt to take advantage of familiar surroundings and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot when they begin a four-game homestand Sunday against the Original Six-rival Toronto Maple Leafs. Detroit posted a 3-1 triumph in Nashville on Saturday to improve to 3-1-1 in its last five contests and climb within seven points of the New York Islanders for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
The Red Wings, who have won two of three at home following a five-game skid, hope to have Mike Green back in the lineup against Toronto after the defenseman missed Saturday's win due to an upper-body injury. The Maple Leafs are in firm control of third place in the Atlantic Division but missed a chance to gain ground on second-place Boston when they suffered a 5-3 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Connor Brown and Tyler Bozak each recorded a goal and an assist as Toronto was unable to build off a perfect five-game homestand. Bozak is one tally away from reaching double digits for the eighth consecutive season and becoming the ninth member of the team to hit the mark this campaign.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (35-20-5): Patrick Marleau continued his strong offensive play Saturday, scoring a goal to give him seven points in his last four games. The tally was his 20th of the season, making the 38-year-old the fourth member of the club to reach the plateau in 2017-18. Defenseman Roman Polak has notched an assist in two straight contests and is two shy of 100 for his career.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (24-24-9): Luke Witkowski, who is in his first season with Detroit after spending his initial three in the NHL with Tampa Bay, scored the first goal of his career on Saturday. The 27-year-old right wing/defenseman recorded four assists in 54 games with the Lightning and had gone without a point over his first 19 contests this campaign. Forward Darren Helm reached a milestone on Saturday, scoring late in the third period for the 200th point of his career.
OVERTIME
1. Maple Leafs C Nazem Kadri and D Jake Gardiner are two points away from 300 and 200, respectively, in the NHL.
2. Detroit RW Anthony Mantha, who has recorded three goals and two assists over his last five contests, leads the club in tallies and is one away from reaching 20 for the first time in the NHL.
3. Toronto F Zach Hyman left Saturday's game midway through the third period after being drilled into the end boards but returned to take one more shift and told reporters he felt fine after going through the concussion protocol.