Up next: Toronto Maple Leafs

DETROIT- Depending on the outcome of their Thursday night game at Minnesota, the Toronto Maple Leafs will either be on a two-game losing streak or winners of seven of their last 10 games when they face the Red Wings Friday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Heading into Thursday's game against the Wild, the Maple Leafs stand second in the Atlantic Division (41 points), have the second-best record (20-11-1) in the Eastern Conference and the sixth-best overall record in the NHL.

Toronto is led by superstar center Auston Matthews. The Arizona native has 13 goals among his 26 points, is plus-13 and averages 18:34 of ice time.
In five career games versus Detroit, Matthews has feasted on the Wings, tallying six goals among his eight points and is plus-2.
But whether he plays against the Wings is a toss-up.
Since Sunday, Matthews has been out of Toronto's lineup with an upper-body injury and he didn't practice on Wednesday, which indicates he's out against Minnesota.
It will be the third straight contest he's missed and the seventh game he's been sidelined this season. Toronto is 5-1-0 in games in which Matthews hasn't played and there seems to be little rush in getting him back on the ice.
"Everyone is day-to-day, what that means I don't know for sure," said Toronto coach Mike Babcock about Matthews' status. "I just know he didn't skate today, that means you're not playing tomorrow (Thursday).
"What I've learned over time, I used to ask players questions, but what it is it's perceived as pressure from the coach and especially anything that lingers, if that makes any sense. That's not my job to put pressure on them.
"We have a really good medical staff and another thing, it prevents the coach from getting in his own way. When you're putting pressure on a guy and he comes back and gets injured, you see it all the time with reoccurring injuries. It makes no sense.
"Especially in the situation like we are, you buy a little time and the other thing about it is no matter who is away, you got to find a way to win games, that's just it. Suck it up, play right and find a way to win."
The Leafs have found a way to win and are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
They are led by a deep forward corps which includes a mix of youth and veterans. Nazem Kadri is second in scoring behind Matthews with 13 goals, 23 total points and is plus-3.
American James van Riemsdyk leads the Leafs with 15 goals among his 22 points and youngsters William Nylander (five goals, 21 points, plus-11) and Mitch Marner (20 points, including a team-best 18 assists) have been solid.
On the blueline, Morgan Rielly is blossoming into an elite level talent. In 32 games, he tops the Leafs defensemen with 21 points, including four goals, and is logging 21:28 of ice time.
Rielly is joined by Jake Gardiner (15 points, two goals and 13 assists in 32 games) and Nikita Zaitsev, (four goals among his 10 points, plus-9) and he leads the Leafs in ice time, averaging 23:06.
With depth, skill and Babcock behind the bench, Toronto has the ingredients to compete at the highest level, but what may set them apart is the goaltending of Frederik Andersen.
In 27 games, he's 17-9-1 with a 2.69 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and three shutouts.
On Tuesday, Toronto held a 2-1 lead going into the third period at Philadelphia. The Flyers scored three goals to win the game 4-2; it was the first time this season Toronto has lost a game when they were ahead after two periods.
"He's been there, he's been there every night this entire season," Rielly told Leafs TV after Tuesday's loss. "We owe him a better effort, tonight was an example of that, but to answer your question we don't go into the third with the game plan of try to let Freddie stand on his head, that's just how good he is and he'll do it when he needs to.
"As a group, we have to do a better job in front of him."
Squandering the lead didn't sit well with the Leafs.
"In general, the games we've been playing have been a patient style of game," van Riemsdyk said after Tuesday's game. "We have to find ways to create offense and create some more havoc kind of at their net and have some more things happen.
"I think it's been a sort of low event kind of games and we can do some other things to be more dynamic offensively."
Toronto is in a stretch where they're playing eight of nine games on the road through December 31. If you think a road-weary Leafs team may benefit the Red Wings' chances on Friday, you may have to think again.
The Leafs have the fourth-best road record in the NHL at 10-6-1 heading into Thursday's action against the Wild.
And they're playing Detroit, renewing one of the NHL's oldest and most colorful rivalries in the history of hockey.