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Maple Leafs Edge Red Wings in Overtime Thriller
TORONTO – In an exhilarating finale to the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs secured a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, with Scott Laughton netting the game-winning goal just 56 seconds into overtime. This clash took place on Thursday night, bringing the curtain down on both teams’ regular-season campaigns.
Auston Matthews, Philippe Myers, and Chris Tanev also found the back of the net for Toronto, who finished the season with a record of 52-26-4. Goaltender Joseph Woll was solid in net, turning aside 31 shots, while Mitch Marner contributed with two assists.
For Detroit, which ended the season at 39-35-8, Justin Holl, facing his former team, tallied a goal and an assist. Austin Watson and Alex DeBrincat also scored, while Cam Talbot made 16 saves in the loss.
While the matchup held no playoff implications, it was a showcase of talent for both teams. The Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic Division title and are set to host the Ottawa Senators in the opening game of the playoffs this Sunday. Conversely, the Red Wings will experience yet another postseason absence, marking their ninth consecutive year without a playoff berth.
Looking Ahead to the Playoffs
This season marks the Maple Leafs’ ninth consecutive appearance in the postseason, where they aim to win a playoff series for only the second time in the salary-cap era. Historically, the team topped the Atlantic Division for just the third time since the 1967 expansion, and notably, for the first full season since 1999-00.
Ahead of the playoffs, Leafs head coach Craig Berube communicated optimism about the availability of injured players, including defencemen Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, as well as centre David Kampf, who are all expected to be ready for Game 1.
Detroit, on the other hand, reflects on a historic playoff drought—having not qualified since 2016, the Red Wings’ 25-season playoff run from 1990-91 to 2015-16 is now a distant memory. The NHL’s only team with a longer playoff absence is currently the Buffalo Sabres, who are in the midst of a 14-year drought.
Key Moments and Stats
A pivotal moment in the game came when Tanev scored with just 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation, stunning the Red Wings and tying the score after Toronto had fallen behind 3-1 at the start of the third period.
The thrilling overtime victory for the Maple Leafs not only brings them confidence heading into the playoffs but also serves as a testament to their resilience throughout the season.
Source
globalnews.ca