Detroit @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2018 ) Detroit 5, Toronto 4

Mitch Marner looks to continue his offensive surge as the Toronto Maple Leafs attempt to extend their point streak to five games when they host the struggling Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. The 21-year-old Marner has scored in four consecutive games after notching two goals and an assist for his second straight three-point effort in Saturday’s 5-3 win over the New York Rangers.

Marner, who will be a restricted free agent in the offseason, has collected six goals and three assists during his four-game point streak and leads the team with 50 points in 36 games after finishing with a career-high 69 in 82 contests last campaign. The Red Wings were in a good spot in the Eastern Conference standings early this month but now sit much closer to last place in the Atlantic Division after losing five of their last six contests (1-4-1). Detroit had a 34-23 advantage in shots on Saturday but struggled to get the puck past Roberto Luongo in a 2-1 loss to Florida after posting a promising 4-1 triumph at Carolina two nights earlier. "It's another frustrating loss,” Red Wings veteran Thomas Vanek told reporters after scoring the team's lone goal. “We need to score, I need to score more. It takes us 10, 12 scoring chances to get something. We had two power plays in the third and got some good looks, but good looks aren’t good enough when you’re losing games.”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, Sportsnet, Sportsnet360, TVA (Toronto)

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (15-17-5): Dylan Larkin originally was awarded an assist on Vanek’s goal on Saturday, but it later was taken away - ending his nine-game point streak. Larkin tops the team in goals (15) and points (34) while Gustav Nyquist is the second-most productive player with 31 points, but he has been kept off the scoresheet in two straight games. Andreas Athanasiou (11 goals, 20 points) was a late scratch against the Panthers due to an upper-body injury and is questionable for Sunday.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (24-10-2): Defenseman Morgan Rielly continued to add to his resume for Norris Trophy consideration by recording a goal and an assist in Saturday’s win, giving him nine of his 42 points over the last four games. John Tavares has netted four of his team-best 23 tallies in the last four contests and became the third Maple Leaf this season to reach 40 points by notching two assists on Saturday. Toronto, which recently lost Zach Hyman for at least three weeks to an ankle injury, saw Tyler Ennis suffer a broken ankle against the Rangers.

OVERTIME

1. Detroit D Trevor Daley is slated to play in his 1,000th NHL game on Sunday while C Luke Glendening is expected to suit up for his 400th.

2. Toronto C Patrick Marleau scored his 545th career goal on Saturday to pass Maurice Richard for 30th place on the all-time list.

3. The Original Six rivals split their first two meetings this season, with each team winning on the road.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 5, Red Wings 2