It’s another action-packed weekend for Sheldon Keefe’s Torontonian outfit, as they’ll have played once again on both Saturday and Sunday night. This time the latter is a rare home game.

Vegas has Toronto as a -125 favourite on the puckline (-298 on the moneyline) on the NHL odds, whereas the total is established at 6.5 goal.

Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds

Tonight’s matchup concludes the four-game regular season series between these sides. At the moment Toronto holds a 2-1 edge, although Detroit conquered the most recent game back in mid-January.

The Red Wings are precariously close to being eliminated from playoff contention. They’ll need to win virtually all of their games and get a lot of help from several teams above them in the standings. Going 4-6 in their past 10 games hasn’t helped. Predicting whether the over or under will connect has been tricky as well. Detroit is 5-4-1 against the under during that same span. Moreover, the outright results of their contests have been wildly unpredictable. They battered Pittsburgh and defeated Carolina, yet fell to Philadelphia and St. Louis.

 If it feels as though Toronto has partaken in many back-to-backs recently, they have. Sunday marks the fourth occasion in a month. The good news is that whether they won or lost the first contest, they won the second every time. Toronto even found itself in this situation just last Sunday when playing Nashville after tussling with Carolina on Saturday. The Leafs have been a bit less consistent these days. Wins and losses flip-flopped in the previous six games.

Detroit Red Wings

If there is a prime example of how not to demonstrate that a club is ready to chase a final postseason spot, what Detroit did Friday night in Winnipeg could serve as the prime exhibit.

The Jets turned on the after-burners early and often in this contest, flying out to the 3-0 first-period advantage. Goals came from Kyle Connor (29^th), Blake Wheeler (16^th), and Mark Scheifele (39^th), piling as much misery as possible onto the Red Wings, who never looked as if they were up for the game. Things only got worse in the middle frame, with the hosts slotting in two more goals, ballooning the lead to 5-0. It was a risible effort from Detroit, who desperately needed the points, which probably speaks to why they are in their current position (read: not in the playoffs).  David Perron (20^th) and Joe Veleno (eighth) would eventually outdo Connor Hellebuyck, but it merely made it a 6-2 final.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Exactly two weeks prior the Maple Leafs and Senators had duelled in the Nation’s Capital in a thrilling contest worthy of their storied rivalry.This time things didn’t play in so dramatic a fashion.

That’s not to say Ottawa didn’t put in a decent effort. They did, but it felt clear that the Maple Leafs were simply the hungrier and, more importantly, the more talented side. They forced Mads Sogaard into some excellent saves in the first period, but he wouldn’t hold the fort forever. Off a bit of a lazy and dangerous defensive attempt to clear the puck in the second frame, Michael Bunting (22^nd) sniped a shot to open the scoring. William Nylander (37^th) doubled Toronto’s advantage around the middle of the period before Radim Zohorna scored his first goal on a shot that Sogaard definitely should have had. From 0-0 to 3-0 in 20 minutes. The Sens pushed in the final period, but Ilya Samsonov was solid and wouldn’t let the hosts enjoy any celebrations, stopping all 31 shots in his direction.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Red Wings Team Leaders

DET

Points

+ / -

Shots

Penalty Mins

Wins

GAA

TOR

Points	Zach Aston-Reese 14
+ / -	Zach Aston-Reese -6
Shots	Zach Aston-Reese 89
Penalty Mins	Zach Aston-Reese 25
Wins	Zach Aston-Reese 0
GAA

DET

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

TOR

Points	Zach Aston-Reese 1
+ / -	Zach Aston-Reese -2
Shots	Zach Aston-Reese 4
Penalty Mins	Zach Aston-Reese 0
Wins	Zach Aston-Reese 0
GAA

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Maple Leafs Team Leaders

DET

Points

+ / -

Shots

Penalty Mins

Wins

GAA

TOR

Points	Zach Aston-Reese 14
+ / -	Zach Aston-Reese -6
Shots	Zach Aston-Reese 89
Penalty Mins	Zach Aston-Reese 25
Wins	Zach Aston-Reese 0
GAA

DET

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

TOR

Points	Zach Aston-Reese 1
+ / -	Zach Aston-Reese -2
Shots	Zach Aston-Reese 4
Penalty Mins	Zach Aston-Reese 0
Wins	Zach Aston-Reese 0
GAA

Injuries

Detroit

Alex Nedeljkovic (G)

Out indefinitely Personal - 13 / 04 / 23

Marco Kasper (C)

out for season Lower Body - 03 / 04 / 23

Alex Chiasson (RW)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 28 / 03 / 23

Filip Zadina (RW)

Ques Tues Lower Body - 24 / 03 / 23

Ville Husso (G)

Ques Tues Lower Body - 23 / 03 / 23

Adam Erne (LW)

Ques Sat Lower Body - 21 / 03 / 23

Simon Edvinsson (D)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 23

Gustav Lindstrom (D)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 17 / 03 / 23

Ben Chiarot (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23

Robby Fabbri (C)

out for season Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23

Toronto

Mark Giordano (D)

day-to-day Undisclosed - 13 / 04 / 23

Sam Lafferty (RW)

day-to-day Personal - 10 / 04 / 23

TJ Brodie (D)

Ques Mon Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Calle Jarnkrok (C)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 08 / 04 / 23

Matt Murray (G)

Out indefinitely Head - 02 / 04 / 23

Wayne Simmonds (RW)

Ques Sun Illness - 01 / 04 / 23

Noel Acciari (C)

Prob Tues Neck - 28 / 03 / 23

John Tavares (C)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 26 / 03 / 23

Erik Gustafsson (D)

Ques Wed Personal - 25 / 03 / 23

Ilya Samsonov (G)

Out indefinitely Personal - 22 / 03 / 23

Injuries

Detroit

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Alex Nedeljkovic (G)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 13 / 04 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Nedeljkovic is away from the team for the birth of his child, and there is no timetable for return.
Marco Kasper (C)	out for season	Lower Body - 03 / 04 / 23	3-3	3-3	+ -
Kasper is idle with a lower-body injury, and he is expected to miss the rest of the 2022-23 season.
Alex Chiasson (RW)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 28 / 03 / 23	5-5	5-5	+ -
Chiasson sat out the last game with an unknown injury, and it remains to be established if he will be available for Thursday's showdown with the Hurricanes.
Filip Zadina (RW)	Ques Tues	Lower Body - 24 / 03 / 23	5-6	6-5	+ -
Zadina missed the last contest with a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up Tuesday versus the Penguins.
Ville Husso (G)	Ques Tues	Lower Body - 23 / 03 / 23	6-6	6-6	+ -
Husso has been absent from the previous two matches with a lower-body injury, leaving his status against the Penguins on Tuesday up in the air.
Adam Erne (LW)	Ques Sat	Lower Body - 21 / 03 / 23	6-7	7-6	+ -
Erne was held out of the last two games with a lower-body, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up for Saturday's showdown versus the Flyers.
Simon Edvinsson (D)	Ques Thurs	Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 23	6-8	7-6-1	+ -
Edvinsson was absent from the last contest due to a lower-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will take on the Blues on Thursday.
Gustav Lindstrom (D)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 17 / 03 / 23	7-8	7-7-1	+ -
Lindstrom has been absent from the last two contests due to an unknown ailment, and his status for Tuesday's battle with the Blues.
Ben Chiarot (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23	7-8	7-7-1	+ -
Chiarot is sidelined on account of an upper-body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Robby Fabbri (C)	out for season	Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23	9-10	9-9-1	+ -
Fabbri is idle with a lower-body injury, and he will miss the rest of the 2022-23 season.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Mark Giordano (D)	day-to-day	Undisclosed - 13 / 04 / 23	4-8	5-7	+ -
Giordano has an unspecified injury, and it remains to be seen if he will participate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Sam Lafferty (RW)	day-to-day	Personal - 10 / 04 / 23	6-8	6-8	+ -
Lafferty is tending to a personal matter, and it has yet to be announced if he will dress for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
TJ Brodie (D)	Ques Mon	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	7-9	6-10	+ -
Brodie was absent from the last clash for rest purposes, and it has not yet been confirmed if he will return Monday versus the Panthers.
Calle Jarnkrok (C)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 08 / 04 / 23	7-9	6-10	+ -
Jarnkrok has been held out of the last two contests with an undefined injury, and it is up in the air whether he will face the Lightning in Tuesday's showdown.
Matt Murray (G)	Out indefinitely	Head - 02 / 04 / 23	9-9	7-11	+ -
Murray is sidelined with a head injury, and a timetable for recovery has not yet been established.
Wayne Simmonds (RW)	Ques Sun	Illness - 01 / 04 / 23	9-10	7-12	+ -
Simmonds is nursing an illness, and it is unknown if he will face the Red Wings on Sunday.
Noel Acciari (C)	Prob Tues	Neck - 28 / 03 / 23	9-11	7-13	+ -
Acciari has sat out the last three contests with a neck injury, but it is projected that he will lace up against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
John Tavares (C)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 26 / 03 / 23	9-12	8-13	+ -
Tavares exited the last game with an unknown issue, and it is unclear if he will participate in Wednesday's battle with the Panthers.
Erik Gustafsson (D)	Ques Wed	Personal - 25 / 03 / 23	10-12	9-13	+ -
Gustafsson has been absent from the previous two games due to a personal matter, leaving his status for Wednesday's tilt with the Panthers in question.
Ilya Samsonov (G)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 22 / 03 / 23	10-13	10-13	+ -
Samsonov is away from the team for the birth of his child, and there is no timetable for return.