TORONTO (AP) — Dylan Larkin scored on an influence play 41 seconds into additional time and the Detroit Crimson Wings overcame Auston Matthews’ 69th objective of the season to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 on Saturday evening.
Alex DeBrincat scored twice, David Perron had a objective and an help, Simon Edvinsson additionally scored and J.T. Compher had two assists for Detroit, which led 4-1 after one interval.
Within the additional interval, Larkin redirected a shot by Patrick Kane previous Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov with Max Domi off for high-sticking. It was his thirty third objective of the season.
“One of many largest of my profession,” Larkin mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t really feel any higher.”
James Reimer stopped 32 photographs towards his former workforce in his five hundredth NHL sport.
“It’s particular,” mentioned Reimer, who was drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2006 and spent six seasons in Toronto. “Happy with the blokes.”
Detroit is in a three-way tie with Washington and Philadelphia for the second wild card within the Jap Convention. The Crimson Wings and Capitals have two video games remaining, whereas the Flyers have one. Washington holds the tiebreaker and at present sits within the playoff spot.
Mitch Marner had a objective and two assists, John Tavares and Nick Robertson additionally scored, and Morgan Rielly had two assists for Toronto. Samsonov completed with 28 saves.
Matthews, who has scored 10 occasions in his final eight video games, moved one away from turning into the primary to participant to hit 70 objectives in a season in additional than 30 years. He matched Mario Lemieux’s complete of 69 within the 1995-96 season.”
“My strategy each sport, each evening is identical,” Matthews mentioned. “I simply attempt to not actually overthink.”
Toronto’s loss locked the Maple Leafs into the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 spot with two street video games left on their schedule.
Samsonov, who practically acquired pulled after the primary, stopped Lucas Raymond in shut with 9 minutes left in regulation and made one other large cease proper earlier than OT with Domi within the field.
“I felt our workforce was gonna be higher,” Keefe mentioned. “And I felt Sammy wanted to be part of that. Glad it labored out the way in which it did, as a result of he was excellent.”
Matthews had a few extra possibilities on a late energy play, and the gang’s anticipation grew each time Matthews touched the puck seeking No. 70 with the rating tied 4-4.
Down 4-1 after an unsightly opening 20 minutes, Robertson scored his 14th at 9:04 of the second earlier than Kane took a double-minor for high-sticking.
That set the stage for Matthews, who hit the publish within the first, to fireside No. 69 previous Reimer earlier than emphatically punching the air at 10:23 inside a deafening Scotiabank Enviornment.
Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned he acquired caught up within the second after Matthews’ objective.
“Main distraction,” he mentioned. “It doesn’t assist us in what we’re attempting to perform on the ice … However it’s thrilling. I get it.
“Particularly when he will get to 69, you may see it’s rising, anticipating. Now you’re feeding it — I’m feeding it. I would like it to occur, wished it for the followers. … I’m glad the sport’s over.”
The sniper practically acquired his seventieth moments afterward a break, however Reimer closed his pads on the final second.
The Maple Leafs acquired even withy 2:38 left within the center interval when Tavares snapped his twenty sixth as Toronto erased a three-goal deficit in simply over eight minutes towards Reimer, who was drafted by Toronto in 2006 and performed for the Maple Leafs from 2010-16.
Marner opened the scoring on an influence play at 8:35 of the primary when he buried his twenty sixth of the season. William Nylander picked up the first help to snap an eight-game level drought.
Detroit tied it 1:27 afterward a 2-on-1 when DeBrincat scored his twenty fifth.
The Crimson Wings pushed forward with 6:21 left within the interval when Edvinsson completed off a give-and-go with Perron for his first.
DeBrincat made it 3-1 on an influence play at 17:37 after Samsonov kicked an enormous rebound proper onto the winger’s stick for his second of the evening.
Perron then put Detroit up three with lower than 20 seconds left within the interval when he snuck his sixteenth previous Samsonov on the close to publish.
UP NEXT
Crimson Wings: Host Montreal on Monday evening of their common season residence finale.
Maple Leafs: At Florida on Tuesday evening to open a season-ending two-game journey.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl