Notes: Wings must force Leafs to play defense

TORONTO -- Without question, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a dynamic offensive machine.
Toronto averages 3.8 goals per game and its goal differential is plus-36 in 36 games.

The Red Wings are well aware of how quickly the Leafs can strike.
On Dec. 6 in Toronto, the Wings were all over the Leafs and had built up a 4-1 lead heading into the third period, but Toronto tied it up in the third, sending the game into overtime.
Dylan Larkin's breakaway goal at 2:38 of OT gave the Wings a thrilling 5-4 victory over their Original Six rival, but Toronto's furious third-period comeback was still on the Wings' minds after Sunday's optional skate at Scotia Bank Arena.
"We got to do what we did the first two periods (on Dec. 6), try to be as fast as we can and frustrate them," Luke Glendening said. "They had a good third here. We were fortunate to get out with two points, won in overtime. But just do what we did in the first two periods and hopefully it'll work."
Rookie defenseman Dennis Cholowski says it comes down to being on top of the Leafs to limit their ability to get their speed game going.
"Really just stay close to them, don't give them any space. They have speed and skill, so you have to gap up and be close to them," Cholowski said. "I think if we can do that, get the puck behind them, get the puck to the net, I think we'll be OK like the last time we played them."
Slowing the Leafs down will be a tall order since they're loaded with talent. With a stacked lineup featuring forwards Auston Matthews (19-14-33), John Tavares (23-17-40), Kasperi Kapanen (12-11-23), Nazem Kadri (9-14-23) and Mitch Marner (12-38-50), plus defensemen Morgan Rielly (12-30-42) and Jake Gardiner (2-19-21), the Leafs have big-time players throughout their roster.
Marner has been especially impressive. He is the sixth different player in Maple Leafs history to record 50 points in just 36 games. But you just can't key on him.
"The thing with Marner is it's not Marner, it's the whole crew. It's not one guy," Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "The best way to contain any of those guys is to make them play defense. If they have the puck and they're allowed to dance and they're attacking up the ice and they're playing in the O-zone, they're going to make plays and they're gonna make you pay.
"You have to make them play defense. It's easier said than done. We have to be committed to get pucks behind. We have to be committed to creating turnovers with pressure. We have to be committed to shooting it and getting it back. We have to be committed to playing in the O-zone and then track like crazy and gap out of our end.
"If we do that, then you have a chance for real success. I think we showed that the last time we were in here. But if they have the puck the whole night, it's real hard."
Toronto is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games against Detroit, but the Wings did win the last time out, so they know what needs be done, which is the easy part. Now they must execute a near flawless game plan against a team hungry for a little payback.

GLENDENING TO PLAY CAREER GAME 400:While the Red Wings paid homage to Trevor Daley who will play his 1,000th career game Sunday night in his hometown of Toronto versus the Leafs, another Wings player will also hit a milestone.
Grand Rapids native Luke Glendening will play in career game 400 on Sunday and he's even a bit surprised.
"Definitely never thought it would be 400. I didn't even know it was going to be one," Glendening said. "I'm so thankful to be here and feel so blessed to have been here for as long as I have. Just take it one day at a time and this is where it's led so far so we'll see where it goes."
When asked about Glendening, Blashill related his favorite story about Detroit's steadfast center.
"Luke, he's my example -- I've used him in lots of talks I've given about personal success. To me, the biggest thing in personal success is inner drive and perseverance. And he's displayed both of those to an nth degree," Blashill said. "His inner drive is second to none. He continues to get better as a hockey player because he works and works and works and works. Everybody in this league works, but he's got extraordinary work ethic. And then he finds a way to persevere through tough times.
"Actually, a good example I give all of the time was when (Mike Babcock) was coaching the Wings, he called down (to Grand Rapids). Cheli (Chris Chelios) had gotten into his ear a bit and thought he wanted Luke as his fourth-line center and at the time, Luke was 40-some percent in the face-off circle. I said, 'Babs, if you bring him up at 40-some percent, you're not playing him.' And he said, 'Yeah, you're right.'"
"So, I brought Luke in and this was exactly what I said to him. The next thing you know, about a month and a half later, he was 50-some percent in the face-off circle. That's the ability to get better and the work ethic he has. He just wasn't going to be denied. Great for him."
Glendening gives credit to his family for teaching him the value of always working hard.
"I know I'm not as skilled as most guys in this league, so I've had to find a way to stick around in other ways," he said. "My grandparents and my parents instilled a work ethic in me when I was young. They've always encouraged me to never give up on my dreams. To this far I haven't and I'm still battling."
HRONEK'S MINUTES INCREASING/CHOLOWSKI'S DECREASING:The plight of being an NHL rookie is always a road of twists and turns, highs and lows.
Since his call-up from Grand Rapids on Dec. 14, defenseman Filip Hronek has seen a steady increase in his ice time.
In his first game back from Grand Rapids, Hronek's ice time was 11:51; in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Florida at Little Caesars Arena, his ice time clocked in at 22:54.
Hronek has played in five games since being recalled (11 total) and his average ice time is 18:05.
"I'm trying to play my best every game and not thinking about this (ice time)," Hronek said. "I feel better now because I know guys more. I definitely feel better. They (coaching staff) tell me I (am) playing good. Saying, keep it going.
"If you are playing, and then you are playing more and more, you feel better. You get in more games, so now you have to be faster here at everything making your decisions."
While Hronek appears to be settling in at the NHL level, his fellow rookie defenseman Cholowski has had his ice time cut in Detroit's last two games.
Cholowski is averaging 19 minutes a game but played only 14:18 against Carolina on Thursday and 15:30 on Saturday versus the Panthers.
"I've noticed it. But I'm a rookie so first year in the league, there's going to be ups and downs," Cholowski said. "It's really just being able to cope with it and just try to stay positive and do your best. That's really all you can do. You can't really control anything else.
"Right now, I don't know, I wouldn't say it's either a high or a low, just kind of still figuring it out, first year, finding the balance between risk and reward."
"I haven't really talked to him (Blashill) about it. For me it's honestly just whatever minutes I get, I try to make a difference, whether that be a few or a lot of minutes. Just go out and play my best and try to help the team win. That's really it."
Cholowski has played in 35 games and has six goals among his 14 points, 14 penalty minutes and is a team high minus-12, but he is tied for the team lead with Gustav Nyquist in power play points with eight.
Including his six games with the Wings to start the season, Hronek has played in 11 games and has three points (1-2-3) and is minus-2 with 18 penalty minutes.
ATHANASIOU OUT:Sometimes Blashill is a man of few words, especially when he is addressing the status of an injured player.
Speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou missed Saturday's game against Florida with an upper-body injury, but Blashill was hopeful he would be back in the lineup against the Maple Leafs.
"Double-A will not play tonight," was Blashill's brief statement about Athanasiou's condition.