Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin (71) scores the game-winning goal in overtime past Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll (60) at Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs have lost the first two games of their five-game home stand.Dan Hamilton/Reuters
The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t get the result they wanted Wednesday night, but unlike Monday’s ugly loss to Minnesota, it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
“I think we competed pretty hard,” defenceman Brandon Carlo said following the 2-1 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. “Got pucks behind them at the right opportunities. It was a low-scoring game, a defensive game, but overall, I think you push to overtime and give yourself a chance.”
Outshot 41-31, the Leafs were ultimately outhustled in overtime, and in the case of rookie Easton Cowan, outmuscled, as he was knocked to the ice and dispossessed by Moritz Seider in the neutral zone, with the German Olympian then teeing up Dylan Larkin for the winner at the 3:08 mark of sudden death.
“It’s normal, young guy where he’s at,” head coach Craig Berube said afterwards. “Got to get stronger, better decisions at times.”
Even with the defeat, Berube’s decision to go back to Joseph Woll following Monday’s 6-3 loss – where the goaltender was yanked after giving up five goals in the first two periods – paid dividends as the 27-year-old responded with a 39-save effort. Among the stops were some Grade A exhibits of larceny, particularly in the first period when he robbed both JT Compher point blank, as well as flicking out a pad to deny Albert Johansson while flat on his stomach.
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“A great response by him,” Berube said. “I thought he was really good, made a lot of good saves, made good saves on their power play. … Gave us a chance to win tonight.”
The narrow loss to the Red Wings allowed Detroit to complete the four-game series sweep over its long-time Original Six rival, and moves it nine points clear of the Leafs. With overtime loser point, Toronto still sits outside the playoff spots, one point back of the idle Boston Bruins in the second wild card.
In many ways, the bigger loss for the Leafs Wednesday was the loss of defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who left the game after just five shifts in the first period with what the team is terming a lower body injury.
“All the guys stepped up,” fellow blueliner Simon Benoit said of a teammate who recently selected to the Swedish Olympic team for the Winter Games in Milan next month.
“Some guys played big minutes, especially Caber [Jake McCabe]. Obviously, when you go see a guy go down like that early, you always try to play a bit more safe. Don’t [join] the rush for nothing, obviously, because you’re gonna play a lot more. But I think we did a good job of that.”
Scott Laughton (24) got the Toronto Maple Leafs out to an early lead on Wednesday night, scoring on Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (36) less than five minutes into play at Scotiabank Arena.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
With Berube calling for playoff-style intensity every game as the Maple Leafs attempt to extend the longest active NHL playoff streak to a 10th consecutive season, his team came into the game firing on all cylinders. Its early industry was rewarded not even five minutes into the game when Scott Laughton found himself in the perfect spot to tap in an advertent assist from Calle Jarnkrok, who had fanned on his shot.
And Laughton had the opportunity to notch his eighth goal of the year in the second period on a penalty shot, but his lost the handle and his tame shot was easily saved by John Gibson, who finished with 30 saves on the night.
“I’ve done that move before,” he said. “Just lost the puck. That’s pretty much it. I could probably shoot it there, but it’s easy to say once I watch it again and slow it down and do all that.
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“But it doesn’t go in and the sun comes up tomorrow and we get back after it.”
After a day off Thursday, the Leafs will have to brace themselves for a brush with Marner mania, as former Leafs winger Mitchell Marner returns Friday for his first game at Scotiabank Arena since he orchestrated a sign-and-trade to Las Vegas in the off-season.
And two days after that it’s time for the NHL’s best team – the Colorado Avalanche – to pay a visit with Canadian Olympians Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in tow, before the home stand wraps up on Tuesday with another divisional game in the shape of the Buffalo Sabres.