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4 takeaways from Leafs-Red Wings: Laughton steps up in extended minutes, Myers scores ‘goal of the year’
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Arun Srinivasan
Apr 18, 2025, 06:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 17, 2025, 22:57 EDT
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It was an atypical regular season game, given that the Toronto Maple Leafs already clinched the Atlantic Division title and a playoff matchup with the Ottawa Senators, but they made Game 82 compelling nonetheless.
Toronto defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in overtime, with Scott Laughton notching the game-winner 56 seconds into the extra frame. Laughton made the most of his 22 shifts, and his line, consisting of Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok started the game.
We may be burying the lede, as the game truly belonged to Philippe Myers, who scored a wondergoal in the third period, changing the tenor of the game entirely.
Myers danced around Tyler Motte, walked Austin Watson, waited patiently and beat Cam Talbot through the wickets. It was a sensational goal from an unlikely candidate, as Myers recorded his second goal of the year.
Chris Tanev forced overtime with 1.8 seconds remaining and with nothing to play for but pride, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube experimented with some unusual combinations. Laughton lobbied for an overtime shift and was rewarded with his 13th goal of the season to conclude the regular season.
Laughton was the recipient of the team belt, awarded to the team’s best or most impactful player in a winning effort.
“I think, if we go back three games now, he’s really come around for us,” Berube said of Laughton, post-game. “I thought in Buffalo he was excellent, but before that he was playing good hockey. Got some chemistry going with those guys, starting to feel a lot more comfortable. I was happy for him to get that goal in OT. You score a goal, you feel good about yourself but it’s not the goal so much, it’s how he’s playing the game.”

Here are four takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ victory over the Red Wings

  • Craig Berube didn’t pretend as if there was anything to be gained, and started his fourth line, consisting of Laughton, Lorentz and Jarnkrok. It was a clear effort to manage his best players’ minutes, and it ended up working wonders. Laughton scored a goal that will surely boost his confidence entering the playoffs. Although the Maple Leafs acquired Laughton to function as a third-line centre, the acquisition cost is a moot point, and he can be moved up the lineup if needed. Laughton said he lobbied for an overtime shift, and it worked out well in an unconventional game. “It’s different, it’s different out there. You probably wouldn’t see me in the second shift of overtime, so that kind of explains it. It’s different but you score with a second left, and we found a way.”
  • Myers scored an incredible goal which changed the tenor of the game, and it was a great reward for a player who has helped the Maple Leafs win five consecutive games, while fending off injuries to Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. And his teammates couldn’t be happier for him. “It was unbelievable. I told him I was open back door, but it was really nice to see him score,” Laughton said of Myers. “I had a front-row seat for it. It was awesome to see him get on the board. He’s been playing some good hockey for us. He’s stepped up in some key situations, and played some crucial minutes for us.” Myers may not receive minutes during the playoffs if McCabe and Ekman-Larsson return, but considering that he won a job in training camp, and an extension in January, it’s a nice reward for a player who eschews the limelight. “It might be the goal of the year. I’ll go back and look at it. I wasn’t sure who it was for a while. Hell of a goal, I mean, hell of a goal. Great for him. I’m happy for him. Nice to see him be able to get one and do what he did,” Berube said post-game. Myers almost set up a goal for Matthew Knies, shortly after his wondergoal, and it’ll be compelling to see if he gets into any postseason game, in the event that either injured defenceman is unavailable for Game 1.
  • Auston Matthews scored his 33rd goal of the season, and while there’s little predictive value from a game that saw the Maple Leafs unearth some odd combinations, Toronto’s top line was in strong form. Matthews worked a strong two-man game with Knies, while Marner capped off the best regular season of his career, with two assists, bringing him to 102 points on the season. Matthews, Marner and Knies are now expected to win their minutes against the Ottawa Senators handily, and show the continuity effect of being used as Toronto’s most commonly-used unit at 5-on-5 for the second consecutive year.
  • Anthony Stolarz will certainly be named as the Maple Leafs’ playoff starter, and while Joseph Woll wasn’t at his best during Game 82, he was excellent throughout the season. Woll carried a true No. 1 workload when Stolarz missed nearly two months while recovering from an injury to remove a loose body from his knee, and finished the season with a 27-14-1 record with a .909 save percentage, 2.73 goals against average, and almost 17 goals saved above expected in all situations. Toronto enters the playoffs with the best goaltending tandem it has ever presented entering the playoffs, and while Berube has never operated with a tandem in the postseason before, Woll is as solid as ‘backup’ options get.

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