For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter The Toronto Maple Leafs looked as if they had not been in action for nine days against the Detroit Red Wings, but earned a point in a 3-2 overtime loss at Little Caesars Arena on Friday thanks to Patrick Marleau’s tying goal late in the third period. Auston Matthews and Marleau combined on both Toronto goals, but the Leafs had difficulty generating any consistent offensive attack, with just 21 shots on Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard and going scoreless on five opportunities with the man advantage. “Our power play wasn't able to capitalize. In the end, that's the game. You've got to win the special teams battle.… Leafs coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “I thought (Detroit’s) penalty kill was real good – I didn't think our power play was very dangerous tonight. We changed it in the game too, maybe we shouldn't have. Maybe we should have practiced it before we went to it. In the end, we didn't score.… Frederik Andersen was sharp and stopped 30 shots, but the night was a feeling out process for the defense with newest addition Jake Muzzin making his Leafs debut. Muzzin started the game playing the left side with Morgan Rielly and that combo stayed together for most of the first half of the game, but Babcock chose to mix and match his other defense pairings from the outset and even split his top pairing in the third with his club behind and looking for the tying goal. Muzzin played just over 18 minutes against Detroit and Babcock equally distributed the minutes among his veteran blueliners, except for Rielly who led the Leafs in time-on-ice with over 28 minutes. “It would have really good if we got the win, but all things considered, it was the first game for me in a while too. I had a little bit of an extra-long break there. I felt not bad. Some things to pick up on and get better, but for the most part felt pretty good.… Muzzin said. Toronto will not make any lineup changes other than goalie Garret Sparks for the second of back-to-back games against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, but Babcock hinted that there will be some adjustments to his ineffective power play and some line combo reassignments to match up against Sidney Crosby that may split the “Triple M… line of Marleau, Matthews and Mitch Marner. ******* Injured winger Tyler Ennis skated for the first time since suffering a broken ankle against the New York Rangers on December 22nd. The veteran forward is currently on injured reserve and the Leafs have to open a spot on the 23-man roster to make room for him, so they placed defenseman Martin Marincin on waivers. With the addition of Muzzin, Marincin was the seventh left-handed shooter on defense and there is a good chance that he will not get claimed by another NHL club and be assigned to the Toronto Marlies. *******
On Dubas, Muzzin, Nylander, possible deals ahead and more...
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