The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered what was one of their first losses in recent memory that wasn’t due to poor process or effort level. Their 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night was simply an example of two division rivals going at it and one team getting the favourable bounce in the end.

Current Maple Leafs backup goaltender Dennis Hildeby was strong in the game, stopping 33 of 36 saves in his outing, but he made an unfortunate play in overtime that led to the Red Wings regaining possession and eventually scoring the overtime winner.

“I think I saw an opportunity to get a breakaway to Matthews there,” Hildeby explained. “Didn’t really execute it how I wanted to but I think it was the right play. I would have done it differently if I got a second chance…I should have used both hands. I only used one hand.”

Despite this, Hildeby’s teammates were overwhelmingly supportive of their teammate after he made a mistake and insisted that he played well enough to get them a win.

“I thought he played pretty well,” Matthew Knies told reporters postgame. “Key saves in key moments. He’s been unbelievable back there for us, so obviously we trust him a lot. he’s got a huge opportunity and he’s definitely showed that he can be a longtime NHL goalie, so I was happy with his performance today.”

Teammate Nick Robertson echoed Knies’ sentiments.

“I thought Dennis was great,” he said. “Saved us a lot and put us in a position to win. It’s unfortunate we didn’t get the win, but he played great.”

John Tavares, who picked up two assists in the game, went as far as to call Hildeby the Leafs’ best player that night.

“You know, first half of the game until, really, the last five or six minutes of the second period, we did a lot of good things,” Tavares said. “We had some good legs, put a lot of pressure on them, and then it just seemed our legs weren’t as good and their legs picked up some speed late in the second and good portions of the third. Beast was our best player tonight, guys battled hard, we were able to give ourselves some looks and opportunity in overtime. Obviously not able to get it done.”

The Maple Leafs will look to take the good habits they brought from this game and apply them to their final tilt of the calendar year, when they host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

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