Jimmy-Howard-3-18-14

Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard turns aside a shot by the Maple Leafs' Nazem Kadri on March 18.

(The Associated Press)

TORONTO – The Detroit Red Wings need to start on time and take care of the puck tonight – which they haven’t done the past two games.

They’re facing a Toronto team that has lost seven in a row, which Detroit defenseman Brendan Smith said makes the Maple Leafs “extremely dangerous.”

“It’s like that wounded bear you can’t put down for that last little bit and they have that extra power,” Smith said. “You got to make sure that you come out hard. Right now it’s kind of do-or-die for them.”

The game, the fourth and final meeting between the teams, starts at 7 p.m. (Fox Sports Detroit).

The Red Wings, Toronto, Columbus and Washington are tied for the first of two wild-card playoff spots in the Eastern Conference with 80 points. But the Maple Leafs have played two more games than the others. They have just six games remaining after tonight, making it even more imperative for them to win.

“They need a win and we need a win and that’s been the case each night we’ve played probably for 20 games, so we’re used to the environment we’re in,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “Should be a lot of fun here tonight.”

Smith, a Toronto native, will have up to a dozen family and friends watching at the Air Canada Centre.

The Maple Leafs are allowing an average of four goals per game during this slide.

“Everything I hear on the radio, it’s ruthless,” Smith said. “It’ll be interesting to see what the atmosphere is like. It’s going to be fun for me to be home and playing against them in such a big game; it’s a four-point swing however you look at it.”

The Red Wings have fallen behind 2-0 in each of their past two games, come back to tie, only to lose in the third period (4-2 to Columbus. 5-4 to Montreal).

“We just have to start on time,” Smith said. “Sometimes your offense is your best defense. If we can get all over them and start on time, which Coach has been emphasizing, that would be huge for us.”

Said Babcock: “We want to be details-oriented and take care of the puck. Last game we turned the puck over too much and when you do that too much it ends up in your net.”

Babcock was asked about the challenges he’s faced this season with the plethora of injuries.

“The year you’re in is the most challenging one,” Babcock said. “It’s just like marriage. Don’t worry about the last one and you don’t worry about the next one, you worry about the one you’re in. it’s the same thing. You got to execute and you got to find a way to get wins. That’s all there is.”

Abdelkader might be ready on Sunday

Forward Justin Abdelkader said there is a chance he could be ready for Sunday’s game vs. Tampa Bay at Joe Louis Arena (5 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

He has been out since March 16, when he caught a skate blade just above his left knee, causing a deep laceration.

“I had a good skate today, get a little workout tonight and then see how it feels in the morning,” Abdelkader said. “Hopefully the swelling stays out of it and I feel good. It’s been slowly progressing so we’ll see.”

Here are tonight's anticipated lines and defense pairs for the Red Wings:

Johan Franzen-Darren Helm-Gustav Nyquist

Tomas Tatar-Riley Sheahan-Tomas Jurco

Joakim Andersson-David Legwand-Daniel Alfredsson

Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Todd Bertuzzi

Niklas Kronwall-Brendan Smith

Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Jimmy Howard (starting)

Jonas Gustavsson

Tatar: No eviction and no plans to move

Tomas Tatar didn’t want to say much about complaints that he’s causing too much noise in the condominium complex he is renting from teammate Darren Helm.

According to the Detroit News, The Main Street Lofts Condominium Association in Royal Oak has filed a lawsuit in Oakland Circuit Court seeking an injunction against Helm and Tatar requiring them to comply with the association's rules or "vacate the premises."

They could face eviction because of complaints by neighbors about “noisy late-night activities.”

Tatar is renting the place from Helm, who no longer lives there.

“I don’t want to comment,” Tatar said. “I’m going give it some time and then I think it’ll figure out itself.”

He said he’s not getting evicted and has no plans to move.

He disputed claims about excessive noise, saying he was playing video games when the police knocked on his door.