Maple Leafs vs Red Wings Preview
08 Oct 2008 by in NHL 2008
Thursday October 9th, the NHL season gets under way in North America. Hockey fans will be treated to an original six match up between Toronto and Detroit. There will be lots of festivities before the game including concerts and the Stanley Cup banner being raised at Joe Louis Arena. This is an old rivalry that we haven’t seen a lot recently with the two teams being in different conferences, and I am sure fans of both franchises are excited. This year on paper it looks like a major mis match with both teams moving in different directions. The Red Wings looking for another run at the Cup and the Maple Leafs well who knows what they are doing. Detroit beat Toronto in two pre season games, but we all know pre season doesn’t matter. Lets go over the key parts of the game and see who has the edge.
Top Six Forwards – This is where the mismatch is most prevalent. The Wings top six is among the best in the league with Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa, Holmstrom, Franzen and Hudler. The Leafs top two lines are hard to define, but it looks like Antropov, Ponikarovski, Grabovski, Blake, Stajan and Steen. Both offensively and defensively Detroit has a big advantage here, and will look to exploit the lack of talent in Toronto’s top six. Whatever the line combinations are the Wings will have more flexibility and will be able to mix and match to find combinations that will work. Toronto’s top two lines are going to have to work extremely hard and hope Detroit isn’t on top of there game. The advantage goes to Detroit on the basis that they obviously have way more talent up front then the Leafs.
Defense - The Leafs D will be led by Kaberle and Kubina, with other defenseman like Schenn, Van Ryn, Colaiacovo and Stralman filling the roster out. This might be Toronto’s strength, but on this night they will have to be at the top of there game to slow down the Wings offense. Detroit has the best top four D in Hockey with Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Stuart. They will put out a talented offensive pair and a physical pair to give Toronto different looks. The third pair in Detroit will be Lebda and Lilja, who both played during last springs Stanley Cup final. Detroit’s defense is definitely deeper then Toronto’s and has more skill. Schenn is a rookie and I wouldn’t look for him to play to much, Toronto will look to protect him against the talented Wings. I don’t mind the Leafs D, Kaberle is a good number one guy and Kubina and Van Ryn are solid NHL defenseman. The facts are that Detroit’s defense is better and they will have little or no trouble with Toronto’s forwards. Once again you have to give the advantage to the Red Wings because of talent and experience.
Goalies – The Maple Leafs best player is there starting goalie Vesa Toskala. Toskala is an excellent net minder, and he will have to play great to give Toronto an opportunity to win. There is no questioning Toskala’s talent, but he will see a lot of shots from great NHL goal scorers. Detroit will counter with NHL veteran Chris Osgood. Osgood isn’t the most talented guy in the world, but he is an experienced winner. The Wings allow the fewest shots in the league and all Chris has to do is make a few key stops throughout the game. Talent wise Toskala is better, but Osgood is more experienced. Basically Osgood will have an easier night playing for the Wings, but if Toskala could stand on his head and frustrate the Wings. The goalies are hard to compare, I call it a scratch, this game might just come down to which goalie makes the saves in key spots in the game.
Depth – The experience edge goes Detroit with vets like Draper, Maltby, Cleary and Filppula, but Toronto does have some solid depth guys. Mayers, Mitchell, Tlusty and Moore will fill out Toronto’s forward lines. The depth guys in Toronto are in a fight for there careers and will be looking to play hard and keep there roster spots. The Wings have a ton of experience with guys like Draper and Maltby having four Stanley Cup rings each. Maple Leafs forwards will be hard to play against, they might not be the most talented, but they will work hard. Depth wins hockey games, and both teams think they are ready for the challenge. The Detroit guys are already proven, while a lot of the Toronto guys will be looking to prove they are NHL players. As a depth player you need to solid defensive players and be tough to play against on a nightly basis. Red Wings depth guys are proven and have some offensive up side, that make them better then Toronto’s.
Obviously on paper this is major mis match, Detroit has more talent and experience. The games are played on the ice and not on paper. The Maple Leaf players will show up and work hard, the last thing they want is to be embarrassed in a national game on the opening game of the season. To win Vesa Toskala will have to be on top of his game for the leafs and they will need to find a line that can put pressure on the Wings D. The Wings players will have a lot going on Thursday night, they will receive there rings, there will be banner raising ceremony and lots of media. If the Wings players can stay focused through all the distractions they should win this hockey game and get off to the start they are looking for. Unlike most I don’t think this game will be a blow out, the Maple Leaf players will play hard and Vesa Toskala will have a great game. My prediction Detroit wins 4 – 2 having a great third period to come out with the win.