Divisional Focus: Red Wings Look to Snap Maple Leafs' Series Reign

 The Red Wings aim to win four crucial divisional games over the Toronto Maple Leafs next season

The Red Wings will be battling this upcoming season to end their nine-year playoff drought and one of the biggest things they'll need to do to ensure that they make the postseason is win crucial games. The Atlantic Division is tougher than ever and with only three available spots plus a pair of wild card spots, they need to win these games. 

One of their key divisional opponents is a big rival in the Toronto Maple Leafs. After losing their last game of the season to the Buds in tragic fashion, the Wings will look to avenge the losses next season. The Red Wings were up 3-1 heading into the third period before the Leafs completed a shocking comeback, headlined by a buzzer beater from defenceman Chris Tanev. Toronto would go on to win the game in overtime, effectively ending Detroit's season with the most bitter of tastes in their mouths. 

They won just one of their four regular season matchups versus Toronto last year but they may catch a break due to some roster changes. The Maple Leafs are entering the season without their leading point man in winger Mitch Marner after trading him to the Vegas Golden Knights. It begs the question of if it'll be enough as the Maple Leafs have been a perennial contender in the East since drafting superstar centre Auston Matthews in 2016. During that span, Toronto has dominated Detroit with a 22-5-3 record.

The Red Wings have been hard-pressed to try and find ways to slow down the budding Maple Leafs as of late but they could have a new solution not yet seen before. Detroit has made some key adds in the offseason with their most notable move being a trade to acquire all-star goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. The addition of Gibson to the lineup gives Detroit potentially their best goaltender in over a decade plus Detroit GM Steve Yzerman also made some veteran adds in  James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton and bringing back Patrick Kane.  

The Detroit-Toronto rivalry stretches back to 1927 with 687 games played between the two clubs. The Maple Leafs also hold the historic advantage in this one with a 303-285-93-6 record all-time versus the Red Wings. Toronto is looking to win their first cup since 1967 while Detroit has been a hockey powerhouse during that stretch with four Stanley Cups. 

The two sides will reignite their age old rivalry at home on October 11th in a home-and-home that will see them square off once again on October 13th on the road. They will pick things up once again on December 28th and will close out their season series on January 21st.