The Maple Leafs and Red Wings put on an entertaining show at the 2014 Winter Classic in front of over 105,000 fans at the University of Michigan’s “Big House…, setting a record for highest attendance for hockey game. Tyler Bozak scored once in the third period and again in the shootout to give Toronto a 3-2 victory over Detroit.
James van Riemsdyk scored late in the second period to tie the game after Daniel Alfredsson gave Detroit a 1-0 lead midway through the middle frame. Bozak gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead on a deflection of a Dion Phaneuf shot, but the Wings tied the game with just over five minutes in regulation, as Justin Abdelkader deflected the puck past Jonathan Bernier.
Bernier was stellar once again in goal, as he made 41 saves for his 12th victory of the season.
After a five minute overtime, the Leafs took part in their fifth shootout in the last six games. Alfredsson and van Riemsdyk missed on their chances, Pavel Datsyuk and Joffrey Lupul scored and Tomas Tatar failed in his attempt before Bozak fired the winning shot past Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, who made 24 saves.
After the game, Howard, Phil Kessel and van Riemsdyk were all named to the US Olympic squad for the upcoming Sochi Games next month.
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The Maple Leafs have not let the Winter Classic festivities stop them from making a trade, as TSN's Bob McKenzie reports that Toronto and Carolina have completed the long rumored deal involving veteran defensemen John-Michael Liles and Tim Gleason.
TOR prospect going to CAR with J-M Liles for Gleason is defenceman Dennis Robertson, 6th round pick in 2011 draft.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 1, 2014The swap reportedly also includes Brown University blueliner Dennis Robertson. Robertson was selected 173rd overall in 2011 and is in his senior year at Brown, but with Toronto's stockpile of defensemen including Tom Nilsson, Matt Finn, Andrew MacWilliam and Petter Granberg, he was an expendable asset. Robertson would have to be signed by the end of June to prevent becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Here is Leafs GM Dave Nonis discussing the deal:
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Much to Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle’s chagrin, this Winter Classic may not be the last one that Toronto will participate in.
According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston , Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment hopes to host the 2017 Winter Classic in Toronto, in recognition of the Leafs centennial season.
The plan includes an expansion and renovation of BMO Field to over 40,000 seats, which would be necessary for Toronto to host the outdoor game.
MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke indicates that arrangements would have to be made with federal, provincial and city government representatives to get the upgrades completed.
“I think if the league liked that idea we can 100 per cent get a deal done with the various government agencies and then do the renovation so we’d be ready,… Leiweke said Tuesday. “A lot of it will be what the league wants. If they came to us and said `We want to shoot for that, we’d be ready for that.…
The Leafs are attempting to attract other league events for the club’s 100th anniversary season, including the All-Star Game and NHL Draft.
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