Justin Abdelkader had a hat trick and Dylan Larkin scored in his NHL debut, helping the host Red Wings beat the Mike Babcock-led Maple Leafs 4-0 on Friday night.
Jimmy Howard stopped 21 shots for his 21st career shutout for the Red Wings, who won their season-opening game and dropped Toronto to 0-2 with its $50 million coach.
The Maple Leafs lured Babcock away from Detroit with an eight-year contract that more than doubled what any other coach is making per season in the league.
“A little extra special for us to get a win against Babs,” Abdelkader acknowledged.