Why was Detroit Red Wings vs Toronto Maple Leafs postponed? Understanding weather issues that caused the delay

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings faced a significant delay due to adverse weather conditions in the northeast.

The decision to postpone the game was primarily influenced by the severe winter storm, causing disruptions in the travel plans of the Detroit Red Wings.

The game was rescheduled to 7:30 p.m. ET. This decision was communicated by Chris Johnston via X (formerly Twitter), shedding light on the situation and providing fans with insight into the reasons behind the unexpected change in schedule.

Toronto Maple Leafs gear up to tackle Detroit Red Wings after recent setbacks

The Toronto Maple Leafs aim to overcome a recent trend of squandering early leads in games. After building a 3-0 lead in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche, they lost 5-3.

This was after the 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders, where Toronto had a 3-1 lead early in the second period. The Maple Leafs had previously secured four straight wins.

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe emphasized the importance of special teams and performance against the opponents' best players.

"If you're going to win this game and compete against that team, especially when they're shorthanded like they are with the injuries they have, you have to be even or better on special teams, and you've got to be even or better against their best players, If you let their power play give them an advantage, and if their best players outplay ours, you're in tough," Keefe said (h/t Sportsnet).

Goalie Martin Jones, who started the past seven games, is ruled out for the upcoming game against the Detroit Red Wings, with Ilya Samsonov called up as the backup. Dennis Hildeby, who recently had a 20-save shutout for the Toronto Marlies, was considered an alternative.

The Detroit Red Wings, on the other hand, continued their positive streak with a 5-3 home win over the Los Angeles Kings, making them 4-0-1 in their last five games. Captain Dylan Larkin played a crucial role, scoring two goals.

The Red Wings' recent success comes after a challenging stretch before Christmas, and they are now just one point away from a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.