Maple Leafs netminder Joseph Woll should stay hot, hold game to under but in losing effort to Detroit Red Wings on Thursday

Thursday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups to end of the season.

The game that sticks out is one with the Detroit Red Wings, who would like to end off their troublesome season on a strong note after missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season. 

They will face off against a fierce Toronto Maple Leafs team that will likely be shorthanded after securing the Atlantic Division with their last win on Tuesday and will likely be resting their horses in this one. It should give the Red Wings a good chance to get a win and make for an exciting matchup. 

More Betting:Safe Bets to Close Out the NHL Season: Top Picks for Parlays and Futures

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 11-4 record on our last 15 picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings Best Bets:

• Under 6.5 goals (-160)
• Red Wings ML (+136) or Red Wings +1.5 (-188)
• Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points (-125)

More NHL: The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Detroit should be more motivated to win this game after missing the playoffs yet again and will want to give their fans something to cheer for. A big gift for the Red Wings faithful is beating one of their longtime rivals in the Maple Leafs.

This will be the 687th meeting between Toronto and Detroit with the Maple Leafs holding the upper hand all-time with a 302-285-93-6 record. Detroit has gotten the better of Toronto lately with wins in five of their last eight matchups with a win Thursday evening up the season series at two wins a piece.

It'll be challenging as the Maple Leafs have a league-best 12-2-1 record over their last 15 games while the Red Wings have a 6-2-1 record over their last nine games. The man who should help Detroit get the job done is none other than legendary winger Patrick Kane, who has been one of the hottest player on the team as of late.

More NHL:Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion has continued to play like an all-star even into old age with six goals and 12 assists for a team-lead 18 points over his last 17 games.

Kane has also done with historically versus Toronto with three goals and four assists for seven points over his last eight games against the Maple Leafs dating back to 2023.

Woll-y MolyDavid Pastrnak rips one off the post and back into Joseph Woll, but Woll's quick reaction allows him to save the puck from going into the net.Breaking news, ...

He should be one of the only Red Wings to score as Toronto's Joseph Woll has been sensational lately with a 5-2-1 record and a 2.49 goals against average over his last eight starts.

The Missouri native has also gotten the better of Detroit in the past with a 1-1-0 record and five goals allowed or a 2.54 goals against average and a save percentage of .900 in two career starts against the Red Wings.

Woll should do enough to keep the game to a low total but I don't expect a high-offensive performance out of Toronto. 

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John Tavares has fond memories of watching the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in the early 2000s.  

Just a few years before being drafted first overall into the NHL in 2009, Tavares watched the Leafs and Senators trade hostilities in the 'Battle of Ontario'.  

"I remember (Joe) Nieuwendyk's goal, watching that," Tavares said, reflecting on Toronto's Game 7 victory over Ottawa in the 2004 first-round series. "I think Cujo (Curtis Joseph) running into the ref or the linesman there. So the intensity I thought was pretty unbelievable".  

The two teams squared off four times in the postseason between 2000 and 2004, creating some epic moments. Tie Domi was part of those teams, and his son, Max, will get to experience that rivalry in the playoffs for the first time.  

Part of the series' charm is the dedication of the well-traveled Leafs fans, who will undoubtedly make the trip to Ottawa for road games.  

"I think that's going to be key," Domi said. "Obviously, going into a tough building like Ottawa, it's going to be nice to have some support there. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Every game is going to be tough. It's going to be an absolute war".  

This upcoming series reignites a natural hostility already established between the teams. Who could forget when Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was suspended for five games after crosschecking Senators forward Ridly Greig in the head following the player's slapshot into an empty net?  

Report: Maple Leafs Defenseman Morgan Rielly's 5-Game Suspension Appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman to be Heard In-Person on FridayRielly was suspended five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa's Ridly Greig.

While it's doubtful past incidents like the Rielly-Greig one will resurface, the three intense contests between the clubs this season make it clear they don't like each other, and much will be on the line.  

"I think it's just kind of natural intensity just because it's the playoffs and there's more at stake," Rielly said. "You look around at the other matchups, they're all going to be very intense and they're all going to be very competitive. That's what you get this time of year. And that's what makes it fun".  

'Good For Hockey': Leafs And Senators Will Be Hungry In The Battle Of Ontario's Newest ChapterThere might not be an NHL first-round series with more built-in emotion than the Battle of Ontario between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Senators' entry into the playoffs was somewhat unexpected this season; it's their first playoff appearance since 2017. They are clearly the underdog of the series, despite beating Toronto in all three regular-season contests this season.  

"That's a very good team over there," Berube said of the Senators. "It's a young team that's grown together. They added some veterans, but overall they're a good hockey team with a lot of good skill on the front end and the back end, and they play a gritty game. It'll be a tough series"

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are confident they'll have their injured players back for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Ottawa Senators.

Jake McCabe is on the ice for the Maple Leafs’ well-attended optional skate.

He’s been out since Apr. 2 with an upper-body injury. pic.twitter.com/zG1gyZg0zI

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) April 17, 2025

David Kampf, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson participated in the Maple Leafs' optional skate before their final regular season game. Kampf and McCabe have been out since Apr. 2, while Ekman-Larsson has been dealing with an upper-body injury since Apr. 9.

All three won't be in the lineup on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, but Toronto head coach Craig Berube is "fairly confident" each will be available for the first Battle of Ontario in the playoffs since 2004.

"I think they’re all in pretty good shape. I feel pretty good about it," Berube said.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube says he feels "pretty good" about David Kampf, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson being ready for Game 1 vs. Ottawa.

"I think they’re all in pretty good shape."

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) April 17, 2025

Max Pacioretty and Jani Hakanpaa, who have been on long-term injured reserve for some time, were also on the ice for Thursday's optional skate. Pacioretty hasn't played since Feb. 8, while Hakanpaa hasn't played since Nov. 16 as he deals with knee issues.

Berube has mentioned that he's "pretty confident" he'll be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs. Hakanpaa, however, seems to be more of a feel thing, with the veteran defenseman saying, "It’s been trending really good in the gym and on the ice, off the ice, everything. Hopefully, we'll get there. We’ll see."

‘Hopefully, We’ll Get There; We’ll See’: Maple Leafs’ Jani Hakanpaa Making Progress, But Return For Playoffs Still UncertainAs the Toronto Maple Leafs inch closer to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s cautious optimism surrounding the status of the return of defenseman Jani Hakanpaa — but no guarantees.

Both players wouldn't be eligible to return in the regular season anyway because of how close the Maple Leafs are against the salary cap.

Kampf has played 59 games this season, scoring five goals and eight assists, and averaging 12:24 in that span. Pacioretty has put up five goals and eight assists in 37 games this year.

McCabe and Ekman-Larsson have been vital parts of Toronto's defense corps. McCabe has played most of his season alongside Chris Tanev on the team's shutdown pairing. He's scored two goals and 21 assists (a career high) through 66 games, plus has averaged the most ice time among Toronto players this season (21:31).

Ekman-Larsson has four goals and 25 assists this season after signing a four-year, $14 million contract with Toronto in the summer. His 21:04 of ice time per game is the fourth-most on the Maple Leafs, behind McCabe, Morgan Rielly, and Mitch Marner.

Toronto clinched the Atlantic Division title on Tuesday with their 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. According to several reports, Game 1 against the Senators is set for Sunday inside Scotiabank Arena.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.

But a whole lot of ex-Penguins are.

There are only three playoff teams - the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Los Angeles Kings - that are not employing a former Penguin (who was on Pittsburgh's NHL roster at some point) on their playoff rosters. But the remaining 13 teams have at least one, and in many cases, several.

Pens fans: Here is your ultimate guide to help you distinguish which ex-Penguins to root for - or root against.

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Carolina Hurricanes

-  F Jordan Staal: Staal played for the Penguins from his draft year in 2006 - he was late former Penguins GM Ray Shero's first draft pick (2nd overall) with the Penguins - through the end of the 2011-12 season, winning the only Stanley Cup of his career with Pittsburgh in 2009. He was, primarily, the team's third-line center during that time.

-  F Mark Jankowski: Jankowski was with the Penguins for one season in 2020-21, playing in 45 games and registering four goals and 11 points.

Dallas Stars

-  G Casey DeSmith: DeSmith played NHL games for the Penguins from 2017-23 as, largely, their primary backup goaltender, and he was dealt in the summer of 2023 to the Montreal Canadiens as part of the blockbuster Erik Karlsson trade.

-  D Cody Ceci: Ceci spent one season in Pittsburgh - a solid one - in 2020-21 before signing a four-year, $13 million free agent contract with the Edmonton Oilers during the summer of 2021. 

-  F Mikael Granlund: Granlund was acquired by the Penguins and former GM Ron Hextall at the 2023 NHL trade deadline, and... let's just say it didn't work out. 

Edmonton Oilers

-  F Kasperi Kapanen: Kapanen - originally drafted 22nd overall by the Penguins in 2014 before being traded to Toronto and then brought back to Pittsburgh - played parts of three seasons with the Penguins from 2020-23 before getting waived, recording 29 goals and 82 points in 162 games. 

Florida Panthers

-  F Evan Rodrigues: Rodrigues spent parts of three seasons on Pittsburgh's NHL roster from 2019-22 and was a solid depth piece. He was traded to Toronto as part of the deal that brought Kapanen back to Pittsburgh, and then he signed with the Penguins as a free agent for the 2020-21 season.

-  D Dmitry Kulikov: The veteran defenseman had a brief stint with the Penguins post-trade deadline in 2023, but he only played in six games total - registering one point - due to injury.

Even In Passing, Shero Leaves Legacy On Penguins OrganizationIt's hard to talk about the Sidney Crosby-era Pittsburgh Penguins without talking about former general manager Ray Shero.

Minnesota Wild

-  F Frederick Gaudreau: Gaudreau, 31, spent parts of one season in 2020-21 with the Penguins, as he was back-and-forth between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate. He posted two goals and 10 points in 19 games with the NHL club that season.

-  F Vinnie Hinostroza: A bit of a journeyman, Hinostroza was with the Penguins' organization in 2023-24 and played in only 14 games at the NHL level, registering a goal and three points. 

-  G Marc-Andre Fleury: Beloved to the Pittsburgh faithful, Fleury was drafted first overall by the Penguins in 2003 and went on to help the team win three Stanley Cup championships. He was selected first overall in the 2017 expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights, ending his long Pittsburgh tenure. Fleury plans to retire once the 2024-25 season concludes for the Wild.

Montreal Canadiens

-  D Mike Matheson: A smooth-skating, puck-moving, high-risk defenseman, Matheson came to Pittsburgh from Florida in the Patric Hornqvist trade and played two seasons with Pittsburgh from 2020-22. He was traded to the Habs in a package for defenseman Jeff Petry in the summer of 2022.

New Jersey Devils

-  F Cody Glass: Glass was brought to Pittsburgh from the Nashville Predators last summer, along with a couple of draft picks. He was dealt to the Devils at the trade deadline.

-  F Daniel Sprong: Sprong was drafted in the second round (46th overall) by Pittsburgh in 2015, and he never quite panned out in parts of his first three NHL seasons with the Penguins. He was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018-19 season.

-  D Brian Dumoulin: 'Dumo' was a key contributor to the Penguins' back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 2016 and 2017 as an elite shutdown presence. He was mostly paired with Kris Letang during his 10-year tenure with the Penguins from 2013-23.

Penguins Defenseman Kris Letang Has Surgery To Repair Hole In HeartIt appears the Pittsburgh Penguins will be down one more man for their final game of the season on Thursday against the Washington Capitals.

Ottawa Senators

-  F David Perron: Perron was with the Penguins for parts of two seasons from 2014-16 before being dealt to the Ducks, recording 16 goals and 38 points in 86 total games.

St. Louis Blues

-  F Oskar Sundqvist: An oft-injured Sundqvist played in 28 total games for the Penguins from 2015-17, posting only a goal and four points.

Tampa Bay Lightning

-  F Jake Guentzel: Guentzel enjoyed a spectacular Penguins' career for eight seasons as, primarily, Sidney Crosby's best winger. He scored 219 goals and put up 466 points in 503 games with Pittsburgh before being dealt to the Hurricanes as a rental at last season's trade deadline.

Vegas Golden Knights

-  F Tanner Pearson: Pearson came to Pittsburgh during the 2018-19 season when forward Carl Hagelin was sent to Los Angeles, and that was his only season with the Penguins. He registered nine goals and 14 points in 44 games.

-  F Reilly Smith: Smith came to Pittsburgh from Vegas prior to the 2023-24 season and showed little interest in being there, was traded to the New York Rangers in the 2024 offseason and showed little interest in being there, then got what he wanted all along and was traded back to Vegas at the 2025 trade deadline.

Washington Capitals

-  F Lars Eller: Eller was a reliable third-line center for the Penguins for parts of two seasons from 2023-24 with 19 goals and 38 points in 99 games. He was dealt to the Capitals in November this season after some brutal losses by the Penguins.

Like Ovechkin's Capitals, Penguins Owe It To Crosby To Right The ShipOn Sunday, the hockey world got to witness Alexander Ovechkin - The Great “8” - surpass The Great “One” for the most goals in NHL history.

-  F Anthony Beauvillier: After a rough season where he was traded three times, Beauvillier found his inner New York Islander again in Pittsburgh this season before - you guessed it - getting traded, this time, to the first-seeded Capitals. Not a bad outcome for him this time.

Winnipeg Jets

-  F Brandon Tanev: After spending two solid seasons as a bottom-six piece for the Penguins from 2019-21, 'Turbo' was, unfortunately, a casualty of the 2021 expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken. He was well-liked in Pittsburgh.

-  D Luke Schenn:He wasn't in Pittsburgh for a long time (48 hours), and he certainly wasn't there for a good time (he wanted to play for a contender instead).

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While the final week of the regular season is fan appreciation week in Montreal, it turned into Brendan Gallagher appreciation week this season. The Montreal Canadiens’ alternate captain lost his mother in early March, and since then, the fans have rallied around him to offer support and condolences.

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Two fans went above and beyond, though. Artist Jessica Boudreau (jb_artmtl on Instagram) painted a picture of the right winger hugging his mother on his wedding day. When Gallagher saw it on Instagram, he asked to meet her in person to thank her and receive the painting. The meeting happened on Wednesday at the Bell Centre.

Later, after the Canadiens had finally clinched their playoff berth, Gallagher met Lucie Lachance on the red carpet. The Gatineau fan who had won his Hockey Fights Cancer lavender jersey in an auction in 2022 had offered to send it back to him after Della Gallagher’s passing, as he had dedicated it to her, but Gallagher replied he wanted to do a jersey swap on the final night of the season with her.

Lachance went a bit further, bringing the player gifts for his daughter Everly, who was born days before his mother's passing. Gallagher gave her a signed jersey and a signed stick as well, along with what looked like a long thank-you note.

Chanceux d’avoir des partisans comme vous 💜

Habs fans are the best#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/Iv15JaL4ym

— x - Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 17, 2025

Montreal Canadiens fans may be intense and willing to drive to the airport to get a glimpse of a 19-year-old’s arrival in the country. Still, their intensity also shows in how they support their players in sickness and health until death do them part, and even beyond that. Who doesn’t remember the funerals of Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur?

The fans' love for this team knows no end, making Montreal an actual hockey city. In this market, hockey is so important that electoral campaign debates are moved to ensure fans won’t prioritize hockey over politics. After all, politics and religion should never be mixed and for some, the Sainte-Flanelle is more than a hockey team, it is a religion. 

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Win or lose on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-35-12) will have their first losing season since the 2005-06 campaign, when the club was 22-46-14.

That season was memorable for so many reasons. Mario Lemieux retired after 26 games, and Sidney Crosby debuted, finishing second in the Calder Trophy to future long-time rival Alex Ovechkin. 

Meanwhile, the NHL had only 30 teams; Jaromir Jagr was on Broadway, Martin Brodeur was still chasing the all-time wins record, Wayne Gretzky owned all the scoring records, and Joe Thornton became the only league MVP in North American sports history to be traded mid-season. 

Ultimately, the NHL was quite a different place in 2006, the last time the Penguins failed to win more games than they lost. Here are 25 fascinating facts about the league 20 years ago.

25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing Season

25. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings played in the Western Conference.

Both clubs moved to the Eastern Conference for the 2013-14 season.

24. The Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Hockey Club did not exist.

The Jets relocated in 2011, while the Golden Knights joined the NHL in 2017, followed by the Kraken in 2021, and the Utah Hockey Club became a new franchise in 2024.

23. The Phoenix Coyotes and Atlanta Thrashers were still active clubs.

Atlanta would move to Winnipeg in 2011, while the Coyotes would change their name from Phoenix to Arizona and fold operations in 2024.

22. The Boston Bruins hadn't won the Stanley Cup in 34 years.

Boston's drought would reach 39 seasons before a title in 2011.

21. The Toronto Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup drought was only 39 years old in 2006.

The Maple Leafs haven't played in the Stanley Cup Final since 1967.

20. The Chicago Blackhawks were in their 45th year without a championship.

The Blackhawks would win three Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013, and 2015.

19. Neither the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, nor the Florida Panthers had won the Stanley Cup yet.

All these clubs have won the Stanley Cup in the past 20 seasons, including the Ducks in 2007, the Kings in 2012 and 2014, the Capitals in 2018, the Blues in 2019, and the Panthers in 2024.

18. Martin Brodeur had only 446 wins in 813 games with 80 shutouts.

Brodeur would go on to set the NHL records for wins (691), games played (1,266), and shutouts (125).

17. Macklin Celebrini wasn't born yet, and Connor Bedard was turning one.

The Penguins' final game of the 2005-06 season took place on Apr. 18, 2006. Celebrini was born on June 13, 2006, while Bedard was born on July 17, 2005.

16. Connor McDavid was only nine years old.

McDavid was born on Jan. 13, 1997.

15. Mark Messier ranked second all-time in points (1,887).

Messier now ranks third all-time behind Jaromir Jagr (1,921).

14. 2006 Hart Trophy winner Joe Thornton had only 189 goals, 347 assists, and 546 points in 590 career games.

Thronton would finish his 24-year career with 430 goals, 1,109 assists, and 1,539 points.

13. The Detroit Red Wings had the fifth-best season in NHL history.

In 2005-06, the Red Wings were 58-16-8 with 124 points, the fifth-best single-season performance in NHL history. Since then, the Tampa Bay Lightning (2019) and Bruins (2023) have surpassed their totals.

12. Steve Yzerman was a few weeks away from retirement.

Yzerman played his final game on May 1, 2006, and ranked sixth all-time in NHL scoring with 692 goals, 1,063 assists, and 1,755 points at the time of his retirement. 

11. Six active players were in the NHL during the 2005-06 season.

According to statistics at NHL.com, only Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Corey Perry, Brent Burns, Ryan Suter, and Marc-Andre Fleury were around to see the last Penguins' losing season.

10. Mark Recchi had one Stanley Cup ring when the Penguins traded him in March 2006, winning his second with the Carolina Hurricanes in June.

Recchi won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1991, another ring with the Hurricanes in 2006, and a win with the Bruins in 2011. 

9. The Civic Arena was 45 years old.

Built in 1961, the Civic Arena was still four seasons away from closing its doors in 2010.

8. Mike Sullivan had only 164 games of head coaching experience, going 70-56-15-13 with the Boston Bruins.

The winningest coach in Penguins history has compiled a record of 408-254-89 in 751 games behind the Pittsburgh bench in ten seasons, including championships in 2016 and 2017.

7. Jaromir Jagr had 591 goals and 1,432 points in 1,109 games with only three teams.

Jagr is the second-highest scorer in NHL history, with 766 goals and 1,921 points in 1,733 games.

6. Mario Lemieux played his last NHL game on Dec. 16, 2005, five months before the season ended.

Lemieux played 26 games during the 2005-06 season, skating alongside rookie Crosby. 

5. Marc-Andre Fleury was 21 with 17 career wins in 71 games.

Fleury will retire at age 40 after the 2024-25 season, winning the second-most games (575) and skating in the second-most games (1,051).

4. Evgeni Malkin (1,212 games) and Kris Letang (1,161 games) hadn't made their NHL debuts.

Malkin ranks third all-time in Penguins history with 1,346 points, while Letang owns all the team's defensive scoring records. 

3. Alex Ovechkin had only 52 goals in 81 games.

In April 2025, Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's goal record with his 895th career goal.

2. Sidney Crosby had 39 goals, 63 assists, and 102 points as an 18-year-old.

As the Penguins' all-time assist leader with 1,061, Crosby is chasing down Lemieux's goal (690) and points (1,723) records with 624 goals and 1,685 points.

1. The Penguins were a perfect 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Penguins have played in the Stanley Cup Final four times since 2006, losing in 2008 but winning in 2009, 2016, and 2017 to improve to 5-1 in the championship series.