The Leafs dropped their final exhibition game 6-5 to the Red Wings in overtime at Little Caesars Arena Saturday night. Toronto concluded its preseason with a record of 2-2-2.
With his roster mainly set, coach Craig Berube sat most of his starters, deferring to players most likely headed to the AHL Marlies. Detroit coach Todd McLellan took a different approach, dressing many of the Red Wings’ star players. The result was a back-and-forth offensive explosion ending with a flurry of late goals that propelled Detroit to victory.
Redwings forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard started the scoring, notching his first of two goals at the 11:34 mark of the first period. The impressive rookie tapped in a nifty centering pass from J. T. Compher to make it 1-0.
Toronto responded later in the period with two goals of their own. Logan Shaw established a good position in front of the net and punched home a rebound past Detroit net-minder John Gibson at 15:57 of the first period. Less than two minutes later, Nick Robertson sent a laser past Gibson shorthanded to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead after a period of play.
That lead was short-lived. Five minutes into the second, veteran forward Patrick Kane slithered his way through Toronto’s defence, took a feed from Alex DeBrincat, and pushed the puck past goalie Dennis Hildeby to even the score. The Leafs again responded with back-to-back goals. Michael Pezzetta and Alex Nylander each scored their first goals of the preseason to make it a 4-2 Toronto advantage going into the third period. Pezzetta made a nice defensive play, blocking a shot at the point, chasing the puck down, and scoring on a breakaway. A. Nylander beat Gibson with a wrister from the corner.
The game also marked the return of veteran goalie James Reimer, brought in on a professional tryout contract due to the uncertainty surrounding backup goalie Joseph Woll’s absence from the team.
Reimer replaced Hildeby halfway through the second, and for a moment, it looked like the 37-year-old might have an easy first night back wearing the white and blue. But in the third, the Leafs began a parade to the penalty box, resulting in two power-play goals for the Wings, Brandsegg-Nygard at 12:33 and Dylan Larkin at 17:19. Leaf winger Cedric Pare did manage a goal in between, and Toronto was ahead 5-4 late. With six attackers on the ice and time winding down, Albert Johansson ripped a shot from the point that beat Reimner to tie the game with 31 seconds.
The Wings completed the comeback in overtime when Larkin scored on another power play to end the game 6-5.
The Maple Leafs kick off the regular season Wednesday night with their home opener against Montreal. At the Scotiabank Arena.
