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The Toronto Maple Leafs without star center Auston Matthews for the second straight game were unable to generate a great deal of offense, losing 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesar’s Arena on Thursday. The Leafs received another excellent effort between the pipes from Ilya Samsonov, but without the two-time Rocket Richard winner were only able to score three goals. Similar to the contest against the Wings at Scotiabank Arena last week, the Leafs were sluggish coming out of the gate and were unable to overcome early Detroit goals from Lucas Raymond and Robby Fabbri.
Toronto thought they had taken an early first-period lead, with rookie Bobby McMann scoring his first NHL goal, but it was determined that the puck had been directed into the net by way of a ‘distinct kicking motion’ and that it did not go off a stick before crossing the goal line. Rasmus Sandin scored for Toronto in the middle frame, and the Leafs pressed throughout most of the second and third period to tie the game, but could not manage to beat Detroit goalie Ville Husso on numerous opportunities (including three power plays).
“I loved the effort. It is not just the back-to-back. That’s five games in eight days for our team. The fact that we punched back in that second period to make it a game when it was 2-0… You don’t let it run away on you, you scored a big goal, and you are fighting right there, basically, to the end. I loved that.” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “We didn’t get generate enough offense to make the game go in our favor, but in terms of the effort, I loved that the guys dug in tonight.”
Keefe relied mostly on nine forwards in the second of back-to-back games, with McMann playing slightly over 10 minutes in his second NHL game, fourth-liner Zach Aston-Reese playing 7:16 and Wayne Simmonds limited to six minutes after taking a careless interference penalty in the first period.
Pontus Holmberg was elevated to the top line with Michael Bunting and William Nylander in the second half of the game in place of Pierre Engvall, and Keefe indicated after the game that he has liked what he’s seen from McMann and that he will remain in the lineup, even if Auston Matthews returns on Saturday in Boston.
Matthews did not skate prior to the Wings game due to illness, and is still recovering from an unspecified injury, so his status for the Leafs matchup with the Bruins at TD Garden.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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