Wings needed a point tonight to keep the playoff dream alive. They got two. In dramatic fashion.
First period
Three minutes and no goals. A good start. Leafs have a slight edge in effort but Wings are looking good so far.
Veleno takes a trip to the Bad Boy Box for boarding as he sent Liljegren into the boards. I’d want it called if it was the other way around, but Liljegren put himself really low when he knew Veleno was coming for him. Naturally, the Leafs score. 1-0. What did I say in the game day updates? Watch out for Marner and that’s who scored. Reimer was way out of the net for some reason.
Marner isn’t the only one to break a drought. HERE COMES ALEX DEBRINCAT. Tie game. The curse is broken. Raymond sets it up and DeBrincat puts it in.
Under 7 minutes to go and HERE COMES SIMON EDVINSSON. His third NHL goal and it’s a beauty. 2-1 Wings.
Wings get their first powerplay as Veleno gets hooked. Knies in the Crimes Cabana. Guess who’s back? ALEX DEBRINCAT AGAIN. Powerplay goal makes it 3-1 Wings.
17 seconds to go and how about one more goal? DAVID PERRON. 4-1 Wings. That one Samsonov should have had, but it’s about time one of those went our way.
Second period
5 minutes in and Bert heads to the Jerk Jail for high sticking. Wings back on the powerplay! Bert was tangled up with Edvinsson and accidentally clipped Petry. Powerplay did not work.
Leafs score halfway through the period. Robertson cuts the lead to 4-2 Wings. Immediately after, Kane goes to the Loser Locker for high-sticking. A four minute penalty kill for the Wings, if they’re lucky. They aren’t. Matthews scores before the 2-minute mark. 4-3 Wings. Wings still on the penalty kill. Leafs have officially woken up. Matthews gets another chance, Reimer makes the save but Matthews and Nylander collide which sends Matthews into the boards. He’s slow to get up but seems ok.
Larkin finishes killing the powerplay by taking on the whole team himself.
4 minutes to go and Wings start peppering shots on net. McCabe gets clipped by the puck and the play is whistled down as he’s bleeding.
2.5 minutes to go and we have a problem. Reimer is sliding around all over the place, the skaters are scrambling, and the Tavares scores. Tied 4-4.
Third period
This is it. Tie game. Season on the line.
No news is good news. Nothing much happening in the first half of the period. Wings are playing too much of a dump-and-chase style for the situation they’re in, but Reimer has finally looked sharp. Wings top line of Cat, Larks and Ray are playing like they want to win. Ray gets a point blank chance but Samsonov makes a big save, best chance for the Wings since the first period.
Still no news. Still good news.
4 minutes to go.
3 minutes. Kane takes another penalty and is back in the Loser Locker. Biggest penalty kill in years.
2 minutes. Larkin gets himself an ok change at a shorty but is making sure not to be reckless.
1 minute. Hanging on for dear life. Reimer is smothering rebounds or it would already by over.
Penalty killed.
30 seconds.
10.4 seconds left. DeBrincat gets dumped! Domi in the Degen Den, a family pastime. Wings are on the powerplay!
Loser point secured. KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE.
OVERTIME
LARKIN SCORES. LARKIN CELEBRATES. NANA LARKIN CHEERS FROM THE CROWD.
RED WINGS WIIIIIIIIIIIIN
