The Toronto Maple fell short in the Motor City on Thursday night. The blue and white suffered a 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the second game of a back-to-back. The Leafs got out to a strong start but faltered as the night went along. The Maple Leafs will look ahead to Saturday night’s game as they prepare for a test with the Boston Bruins.
In the opening period, the Maple Leafs had a quick start; after a face-off win by Leafs center David Kampf, a loose puck in the crease for Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann was put in the goal! However, after a Red Wings challenge, the goal was deemed to be “no good” after a “kicking motion.” This would have been Bobby McMann’s first goal of his NHL career in only his second game with the NHL club.
The Detroit Red Wings started to claw back with momentum as the first period went along. As the Leafs’ strong early start started to fade, Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond opened the scoring. A beautiful burst of speed into the Maple Leafs zone by Red Wings center Dylan Larkin started the opportunity; as Larkin dropped a pass in the slot for Lucas Raymond, the 20-year-old winger made no mistake beating Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov for the Red Wings opener.
As the opening period started to come to a close, both sides struck with opportunities! However, neither team could convert their chances. The Red Wings outshot the Maple Leafs 9-8 through the first twenty minutes of play at Little Caesars Arena.
The Red Wings got off to a hot start in the middle frame. After penalties to Maple Leafs Jordie Benn and Morgan Rielly, the Red Wings came close on the 5-on-3. However, once Jordie Benn’s roughing minor was over, a beautifully worked tic-tac-toe goal by Red Wings forwards Dominik Kubalik, Jonatan Berggren, and Robby Fabbri capitalized for the team’s second goal! This was Robby’s 3rd-goal of the season and his third straight game with a goal for Detroit.
After the Red Wings took a 2-0 lead early in the second period, the Maple Leafs got one back fairly quickly. A shot from Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin found the back of the net; Sandin’s goal came off an odd deflection from Red Wings center Dylan Larkin. This was Sandin’s 3rd-goal of the season for the Maple Leafs as the blue and white came within one. The goal was assisted by Leafs center John Tavares and defenseman Timothy Liljegren.
After the Maple Leafs’ first goal, the game started to balance out a lot more. After showing signs of better play midway through the second, the blue and white couldn’t find the equalizer before the second intermission. The Maple Leafs went into the intermission, outshooting the Red Wings 8-6 that period as they hoped for a comeback!
In the final frame of this one, the Maple Leafs didn’t have the start fans hoped for. A few strong saves early from Ilya Samsonov were needed. After Ilya’s clutch save on Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi, it started to change the momentum. It was now the Maple Leafs on the front foot really putting the work in for that equalizing goal. After Samsonov gave the Leafs a bit of a spark, Maple Leafs forward William Nylander had a dazzling play that Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso denied.
As the Maple Leafs had a strong period, the blue and white still couldn’t beat Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso a second time. Once the Leafs pulled goaltender Ilya Samsonov for the extra-attacker, Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot scored his 3rd-goal of the season. A bank shot off the boards made it 3-1 Red Wings with 1:53 to go.
Before the final horn went at Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Red Wings added one more! This time it was defenseman Moritz Seider who scored on the power play. After a late high-sticking call to Maple Leafs forward William Nylander. Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider fired a shot from the point that beat Samsonov for his 3rd-goal of the season. It looked as if the Maple Leafs penalty-killers set up a screen that Seider took advantage of. The Red Wings finished tonight’s game with a 4-1 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Despite a good game from Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov, it was a better night for Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso. The Maple Leafs dropped the second game of a back-to-back and will now look ahead to Saturday’s test against the Bruins. Boston is currently first place in the standings and has a 19-1-3 record at home. It’s unclear if the Maple Leafs will have Auston Matthews back for that one, but regardless it should be a great game!
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