Red Wings Edge Leafs in Overtime Thriller, Larkin Delivers the Final Blow
TORONTO - In a game that felt every bit like a playoff preview, the Detroit Red Wings outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs in a tightly contested Atlantic Division showdown, pulling out a 2-1 overtime win thanks to a clutch finish from captain Dylan Larkin.
Larkin ended the night in style, scoring the game-winner at 4:07 of overtime after Moritz Seider muscled the puck free with a strong defensive play at the blue line. That opened the door for Larkin to streak in alone and bury the winner, delivering Detroit its fourth straight victory over Toronto this season-and two more valuable points in the standings.
It was a gritty, grinding affair, the kind of game where every inch of ice had to be earned. And the Wings, now 31-16-4, showed once again they’re built to handle this kind of hockey.
Edvinsson’s Timely Strike
Detroit’s only other goal came late in the first period, courtesy of Simon Edvinsson. With just 17.7 seconds left on the clock, the young defenseman cashed in on a slick feed from Lucas Raymond.
It was a well-executed rush-Raymond carried the puck up ice, gave it to Larkin, got it back, and then feathered a pass to Edvinsson, who snapped home his sixth of the season. That tied the game at 1-1 and capped off a dominant opening frame for Detroit, who outshot the Leafs 15-7 in the first 20 minutes.
Gibson Stands Tall Again
John Gibson continued his strong run of form between the pipes, turning aside 29 shots, including several key stops during a penalty-filled second period. Gibson was especially sharp early, denying John Tavares on a net-front jam in the first period that could’ve tilted the game Toronto’s way.
The only puck that beat him came five minutes into the game, when Scott Laughton was left unchecked in front of the net. Calle Jarnkrok found him with a quick pass, and Laughton redirected it past Gibson to give the Leafs the early lead.
But Gibson settled in quickly and delivered the kind of performance the Wings have come to expect since Thanksgiving. He made 11 saves in the first period alone and came up big again in the second, particularly during back-to-back penalty kills.
Penalty Kill Comes Up Big
The second period tested Detroit’s discipline and their penalty kill. The Wings were whistled for three infractions, including a tripping call on Jacob Bernard-Docker and another on James van Riemsdyk. But the unit held firm, with Gibson anchoring the effort.
The biggest moment came at 16:41, when Simon Edvinsson was called for hooking Laughton on a breakaway, leading to a penalty shot. Laughton, who’s had a knack for producing against Detroit-15 goals and 22 points in his last 21 games versus the Wings-couldn’t convert this time. The puck slipped off his stick as he closed in on Gibson, ending the chance with a soft roll into the goalie’s pads.
That missed opportunity loomed large, especially after the Wings weathered the storm and carried the momentum into the third and overtime.
Physical Finish
The second period ended with tempers flaring, as Lucas Raymond was knocked down by Simon Benoit, sparking a scrum. It was a physical, emotionally charged game throughout-exactly what you’d expect from two teams jockeying for playoff position in a stacked Atlantic Division.
Detroit’s victory gives them a sweep of the season series so far against Toronto, with one more meeting still to come. And while the Leafs have games in hand, the Wings are doing exactly what they need to do: banking points now, especially against division rivals.
If this game is any indication, the Wings are more than ready for the kind of hockey that gets played in April. And if Larkin keeps delivering like this, they might just make some noise when they get there.