DETROIT - One pre-season game to go and a hundred questions remain about who starts with the Maple Leafs next week.
Coach Mike Babcock’s mood swings went from encouragement to discouragement in the course of Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Red Wings, about as good a field test his team will get, a primer on how it’s done against a fairly NHL-flavoured lineup at Joe Louis Arena.
With time running out on this training camp, it was imperative some Leafs take mental notes and apply them as their record fell to 3-4. More than 40 players remain, but after Saturday’s return match at the ACC, the Leafs have to get down to 23 for Wednesday’s opener against Montreal.