Postgame: Leafs squeak to 3-2 win over Wings

Well, two points is two points.

After a series of games where the Leafs hadn’t won since that OT victory over the Winnipeg Jets on February 21st, the Detroit Red Wings were perfect feeding material for the Buds.

Coming into the game last in the Eastern Conference, it seemed like if there was ever a game to snap out of their losing streak, this would be the one. And though it wasn’t exactly smooth, the Leafs managed a respectable enough 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

The Leafs started out about as quickly as you’d like, as just 67 (lol) seconds into this game they found themselves with a 1-nil lead… courtesy of former Wings man Alexey Marchenko.

For once, a Leaf scored against his former team and not the other way around.

Funnily enough, it was his first goal of the season. Thanks, Detroit!

JVR chipped in with his goal first in quite a few games about halfway through the period…

In the second period, it was all Leafs… for most of it.

A failed zone exit led to Nazem Kadri’s goal, giving him his 27th on the year and the Leafs a 3-zip lead.

Detroit didn’t actually manage a shot on goal until 3:48 left in the second, which is maddeningly remarkable if you think about it.

Gustav Nyquist hit his stride after a rough few months and put the Red Wings on the board with 38 seconds left in the second period.

36 seconds into the third, he had his second.

Hold on to your butts, folks! After all, these are the Toronto Maple Leafs!

The game’s final ending sequence was an interesting one.

Henrik Zetterberg’s face was cut was about 5 seconds left via an errant Connor Brown high stick. No call.

It likely wouldn’t have mattered, but was a fair enough qualm to hold with the refs. Zetterberg argued briefly before returning to the bench to get cleaned up, and talked his way into staying onto the ice in an offensive zone faceoff. With the Wings down 3-2, this was obviously their final chance.

The ironic thing though came moments later, when Zetterberg earned a faceoff violation and delay of game penalty, effectively ending the game.

The horn goes, and the home team wins.

HUGE two points. Wasn’t pretty, but they don’t ask how, they ask how many.

As stated earlier, the Wings fell flat in the second and the Leafs found a way to capitalize. Wasn’t dominant, strong enough and though it was a scary final 10 minutes or so, the Leafs found a way to hold on.

A little quiet recently, Mitch Marner managed two assists and earns tonight’s Blue Warrior

The Leafs stay at home against Philadelphia on Thursday night. See you then!