Red Wings Aim for Sweep Against Maple Leafs in Toronto

TORONTO – The Detroit Red Wings are set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second time in three days at Scotiabank Arena on Monday afternoon. The puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit).

Detroit enters the game with a record of 1-1-0 and two points after their recent 6-3 victory over Toronto on Saturday. Mason Appleton, a key player, expressed the importance of building on their previous win. “From Game 1 to Game 2, I thought we managed the game a lot better,” Appleton said. “We made a lot better puck decisions, better reads defensively, limited their speed and time with the puck.”

In Saturday’s match, Detroit fell behind 2-0 but rallied to score three unanswered goals in the second period and extended their lead in the final third. Standout performances came from Patrick Kane, who scored one goal and notched two assists; Alex DeBrincat, who added three assists; and Lucas Raymond, who netted two goals.

Appleton noted the importance of minimizing errors in future games. “You can’t shoot yourself in the foot five, six times in a game,” he said. “We just got to do that again.” Head Coach Todd McLellan acknowledged the learning curve as players continue to bond and understand team systems better.

This matchup marks a significant moment for the Red Wings, with at least three players making their NHL debut during Opening Night for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

McLellan also indicated a strong likelihood that veteran James van Riemsdyk would make his season debut in Toronto. Van Riemsdyk practiced with Appleton and Michael Rasmussen and is expected to add stability to the lineup. “He’s a big man with good hands,” McLellan said. “Power play, in and around the net, he’s one of the better ones in the National League.”

Van Riemsdyk shared that he feels a “good handle” on the team’s approach and is looking forward to developing chemistry with his teammates. “Sometimes, you need some reps in a game to develop that sort of thing,” he added.