Maple Leafs Fall Short in Overtime Again as Red Wings Complete Season Sweep
The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped another tight one on Wednesday night, falling 2-1 in overtime to the Detroit Red Wings. It was a game that had all the makings of a goaltending showdown, and that’s exactly how it played out - with Joseph Woll and John Gibson turning in strong performances on both ends of the ice. But in the end, it was Dylan Larkin who sealed it for Detroit, finishing off a gritty play that started in Toronto’s offensive zone.
For the Red Wings, it was their fourth consecutive win over the Leafs, completing a season-series sweep. And while the last two meetings needed overtime to decide things, the outcome remained the same: Detroit finding a way to win.
Wednesday’s game-winner came at the 3:08 mark of OT, after Moritz Seider muscled the puck away from Easton Cowan and fed Larkin on the rush. Cowan, just 20 years old, had a mixed outing - flashes of promise, but also a few moments he’ll want back.
Still, with three goals and five points in his last nine games, he’s been finding ways to contribute despite limited minutes.
Laughton Steps Up, But Offense Still Searching for Answers
On a night where offense was hard to come by, Scott Laughton provided Toronto’s lone goal. He opened the scoring just under five minutes into the first period, capitalizing on a broken play after Calle Järnkrok whiffed on a shot set up by Steven Lorentz. Laughton pounced on the loose puck and buried it - a gritty, opportunistic goal that matched the tone of the game.
Laughton’s offensive production has been inconsistent this season, but he’s made up for it in other areas. He’s been a rock in the faceoff circle and a key contributor on Toronto’s penalty kill, which ranks fourth in the league. Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play Wednesday, a testament to the defensive structure on both sides.
Late in the second, Laughton had a golden chance to give the Leafs the lead again with a penalty shot. But after a long shift, he looked gassed and lost control of the puck before he could get a quality shot off.
He took it in stride afterward, joking with reporters: “I was too tired. I should have faked a broken stick and let Auston Matthews go or something.”
Speaking of Matthews, his three-game point streak came to an end despite leading the team with five shots on goal. He had scored in each of the previous three contests and added two assists, but Detroit kept him off the scoresheet this time around.
Woll Answers the Bell in Bounce-Back Start
Joseph Woll had something to prove heading into this one. After giving up 11 goals on 62 shots over his last two starts, there were questions about whether he needed a breather. Some thought Dennis Hildeby might get the nod, but the Leafs stuck with Woll - and he delivered.
Woll was sharp from the opening puck drop, especially in the first period, where he made several key saves in traffic and held strong during a chaotic net-front scramble that looked more like a rugby scrum than a hockey sequence. Detroit finally broke through with just 17 seconds left in the first, but that didn’t take away from Woll’s performance. He finished with a season-high 39 saves and gave Toronto every chance to win.
Injuries Starting to Pile Up
Toronto’s injury list is starting to grow again, and Wednesday brought another blow. Oliver Ekman-Larsson left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury after getting tangled up with Lucas Raymond and falling awkwardly. His right leg appeared to twist underneath him, and he did not return.
There was no immediate update on his condition, but any extended absence would be significant. Ekman-Larsson has been one of Toronto’s steadiest defensemen since the calendar flipped to January - second on the team in points during that span, sporting a team-best plus-11 rating, and averaging over 20 minutes a night.
He now joins William Nylander on the sidelines, while Matthew Knies continues to deal with a lingering lower-body issue. Brandon Carlo may also be nursing something, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston.
Beyond the NHL, the injuries could have implications for Sweden’s men’s hockey roster ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Nylander and Ekman-Larsson were expected to be key pieces, and their availability is now in question. Sweden is already dealing with a growing list of injured stars, including Leo Carlsson, Jonas Brodin, Gabriel Landeskog, Joel Eriksson Ek, Victor Hedman, and Erik Karlsson.
What’s Next for the Leafs
The Leafs are now 0-1-1 to start their five-game homestand, and things don’t get any easier with the Vegas Golden Knights coming to town on Friday. That game will mark Mitch Marner’s return to the lineup - and potentially a much-needed jolt of energy for a team that’s struggling to put together a full 60-minute effort.
It’s unclear whether Nylander, Ekman-Larsson, or Anthony Stolarz will be ready to go by then, but the Leafs need someone to step up. The crowd’s response to Marner might provide a spark, but ultimately, the urgency has to come from within the locker room.
Toronto was outshot 13-5 in the third period and 6-0 in overtime against Detroit. That’s not a recipe for success - and it’s become a troubling trend. The inability to close out games or maintain momentum across all three periods has been a recurring issue this season, and it was on full display again Wednesday night.
There’s no question the talent is there. But until the Maple Leafs can consistently put it all together, nights like this one - tight, winnable games that slip away late - will continue to sting.