The Maple squandered two one-goal leads, eventually falling to the Red Wings 3- 2 in overtime Sunday night at Little Caesars Arena.
A night after scoring seven goals and giving up five, the Leafs engaged in a defensive battle against the division-leading Red Wings.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, but the suddenly hot Toronto power play led to a goal 4:25 into the second. Matthew Knies, out-battled the Detroit defence in front of the crease and tapped a Auston Matthew pass by Cam Talbot for the opening score.
The Leafs held that lead all the way until the final minute of the period, that’s when Moritz Seider tied it on a screened wrist shot from just inside the blue line to make it 1-1.
Toronto regained the lead at the 4:53 mark of the third period on Nicholas Robertson’s 8th goal of the season. A hard forechecking John Tavares forced a turnover deep in the Red Wings’ zone. After stealing the puck, Tavares fed Robertson at the edge of the circle. Robertson blasted a slap shot by Talbot to put Toronto back in front.
Detroit responded 23 seconds later. Mason Appleton scored his 4th of the season after a bouncing puck eluded Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Troy Stecher at the blue line and ended up on the Red Wings forward’s stick. Appleton fired it past Dennis Hildeby for the 2-2 tie. That was the score at the end of regulation.
Then, in overtime, Hildeby whiffed on a clearing attempt, leading to a turnover and a Simon Edvinsson game-winner 1:46 into the extra period.
Next up, the Maple Leafs host the New Jersey Devils Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena.
