from Gregg Krupa of the Detroit News,
On Friday, in the recently renamed Scotiabank Arena, errors of inexperience deprived the Wings of any opportunity for victory, despite some fine play by developing prospects against most of the top NHL talent from Toronto.
The 5-1 win Saturday at Little Caesars Arena proved less informative, with both teams skating more players destined for their AHL teams.
In Toronto, Dennis Cholowski’s rush up ice and nifty feed to Gustav Nyquist for the first goal, and his ability to close quickly on Mitch Marner to erase a promising foray by the Leafs, were welcome signs of hope for a defensive corps increasingly hard-pressed for six seasons.
Filip Hronek stopped a charging Austin Matthews in his tracks about 15 feet from the Wings goal.
And, when the Maple Leafs’ anointed one deftly passed to a linemate with a rapier flip of his stick, Hronek knocked the puck towards a teammate, who secured the transition.
Joe Hicketts had a team high 21:14 on ice, hit many things that moved and did not seemed overmatched amid several of the large, talented forwards.
Libor Sulak’s size, 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, helped him do the same. Sulak has played well for much of the preseason and registered six hits in 20:20 of playing time on Friday.
Michael Rasmussen looked as though he belonged, and it is good tidings to see the big man initiate contact.
Below is Ansar Khan on the players on the bubble plus game highlights from last night and Frk, Hicketts and Blashill post-game.
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