Maple Leafs Game Day

DETROIT - News and notes from Joe Louis Arena heading into tonight’s 2008-09 season opener between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

1. Them’s Fightin’ Words?

Leafs coach Ron Wilson had a good chuckle this morning when informed by a reporter that he had made USA Today.

But not for the reason he might have expected.

The publication apparently ran a recent article listing the top matchups of the upcoming season, including the battle between superstars Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.

No. 5 on the list? Ron Wilson vs. the Toronto media.

“Boy they are giving you guys too much credit,” Wilson told a scrum of 20 reporters, tongue planted firmly in cheek.

After calling the report “irrelevant,” Wilson added one final quip.

“It’s a battle I’d be heavily favoured in anyway,” he quipped.

2. Rumour de jour

Sources close to the situation insist that recent rumours are not true suggesting Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph and country music icon Shania Twain have become an item.

Joseph apparently has been approached about the scuttlebutt by curious reporters the past few days, including a member of Sun Media this morning.

Cujo’s response? He remained quiet, offered up a wry smile, then headed off to the team bus.

3. All In The Family

Former Red Wings coach Johnny Wilson, uncle of Leaf coach Ron Wilson, was said to be at The Joe today.

“I haven’t had much success in this building in the past,” Ron Wilson joked. “The Red Wings used to accuse (Johnny Wilson) of spying on them for me. But, given my lack of success here, maybe he was spying ON me instead.”

4. Loose Leafs

Judging by those players still on the ice after the majority of Leafs had finished their morning skate, Ian White and Anton Stralman could be healthy scratches tonight. The Leafs have eight healthy defencemen plus injured blue liner Jeff Finger, so their are no shortage of bodies. “It probably will be a game-to-game decision on who will dress on defence,” Wilson said. “Whoever plays better will continue to be out there.” ... Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom is wearing a visor after a puck deflected off the stick of new teammate Marian Hossa and smacked him in the face during an exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens. He said he likely will continue wearing it ... The Leafs have 11 news faces on their roster - Forwards Mikhail Grabovski, Ryan Holwig, Nikolai Kulemin, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers, John Mitchell, defencemen Jeff Finger, Mike Van Ryn, Jonas Frogren, Luke Schenn and goalie Curtis Joseph.

5. The Bottom Lines

Here are the projected Maple Leaf lines for tonight:

Jiri Tlusty-Mikhail Grabovski-Niklas Hagman

Alexei Ponikarovsky-Nik Antropov-Jason Blake

Alex Steen-Dominic Moore-Nikolai Kulemin

Matt Stajan-Jamal Mayers-John Mitchell