Laughton scores in OT, Maple Leafs rally past Red Wings
Scott Laughton scored 56 seconds into overtime, and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.
Laughton got the rebound of Dakota Mermis’ shot off the end boards and tucked it in at the side of the net.
“It was nice,” Laughton said. “To get out in overtime and end the season on a high note, I think, is big. We found a way to come back, scores a big one and we found a way. Now the real fun starts and it’s exciting to get some rest here and get prepared for a really good series.”
The Maple Leafs finished first in the Atlantic Division and will face the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference First Round. Game 1 is in Toronto on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN2)
The goal came after Tanev tied it 3-3 with two seconds remaining in the third period when he skated in from the blue line and shoveled a centering pass from Mitch Marner over Cam Talbot’s glove from the slot with Joseph Woll pulled for the 6-on-5 advantage.
“It is what it is, the fun stuff starts now,” Tanev said.
Auston Matthews scored, Marner had two assists, and Woll made 31 saves for the Maple Leafs (52-26-4), who won five in a row to end the regular season.
“I thought our first period was fine considering the game and the situation,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “The second period got a little loose and sloppy, but I thought our guys brought it back to earth in the third and played the right way, a little more direct. We were fortunate to get that tying goal. I was happy for Tanev, and we ended up winning in OT. Considering the situation, guys did what they had to do.”
Austin Watson, Justin Holl and Alex DeBrincat scored, and Cam Talbot made 16 saves for the Red Wings (39-35-8), who had won three in a row. Detroit did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, falling out of contention after going 4-10-0 in March despite holding the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference at the beginning of the month.
“You can put it a hundred different ways, but we just didn’t win hockey games and that’s on the guys in the room and it’s frustrating to go through it again and sit here outside of the playoffs,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “March was definitely not a good month for us and defined our season unfortunately.”
Matthews scored for the third straight game to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 17:53 of the first period when he took a pass from Matthew Knies and backhanded a shot past a sprawling Talbot in the slot.
Watson tied it 1-1 at 19:19 when he got to a loose puck in the slot after Mermis blocked his initial shot and backhanded it past Woll’s blocker.
Holl shot from the blue line over Woll’s glove to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead at 2:16 of the second period.
DeBrincat made it 3-1 at 5:50 on the power play when he one-timed a pass from Moritz Seider at the top of the left face-off circle.
“We talked about it after the second period, there’s something to play for to get to 40 wins,” Larkin said. “That would be big for our team and we just didn’t do that, kind of a story of the season.”
Philippe Myers cut it to 3-2 at 3:43 of the third period. He took a cross-ice pass at the top of the right circle and slalomed his way around multiple Red Wings skaters in the right circle before shooting between Talbot’s pads from the bottom of the right circle.
“Amazing, highlight of the night for sure,” Tanev said of the goal.
It was just Myers’ second goal of the season in his 36th game.
“That might be the goal of the year. I have to go back and look at it, but I wasn’t sure who it was for a while watching it,” Berube said. “It was a hell of a goal, hell of a goal. Great for him. I’m happy for him. It was nice to see him get one and do what he did.”
After Toronto clinched first place in the Atlantic on Tuesday, with Detroit having been eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, the game had no significance in the standings for either team.
“Definitely weird, I’ve played in these games before,” Tanev said. “You’re just trying to feel it out. You obviously don’t want any of your key guys to get hurt. Our first and third period were good. We stunk in the second but somehow got the win and that’s all that matters.”
Toronto finished its season going 13-2-1 in its final 16 games, winning eight of those games by two goals or less.
“We found ways at the right time,” Laughton said. “Our goalies have been big. Guys have stepped up on defense when there’s been some key injuries and we’ve just found a way to keep plugging through. I feel like we’ve kind of been on the road the last part of the year here but we’ve found a way and you’re going to need that in the playoffs, finding ways in tight games, so it’s good.”
