Recap: Red Wings Keep it Close in 5-4 Loss to Toronto Maple Leafs

The Detroit Red Wings were right behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for a majority of the game, but they were ultimately unable to pull off a victory on the road.

First Period

The first period was a pretty even affair. Toronto opened the period strong, maintaining strong offensive possession. But the Wings put the clamps down defensively, mucking up the neutral and defensive zone and creating some chances of their own.

With just 13 seconds left, Jake Muzzin ripped a shot that bounced off of Thomas Greiss’ leg and into the net. Toronto went to the locker with a 1-0 lead.

Second Period

The Red Wings got a power play chance seven minutes in. The Maple Leafs had a shorthanded breakaway after a turnover from Moritz Seider, but it ringed off the goalpost. Seconds later, the Red Wings zipped back to the other end of the ice and set up another offensive possession. Filip Zadina moved forward and sniped a wrister to the top of the net, tying the game up at one-all.

With 1:59 left in the second, a slashing call gave the Leafs their first power play chance of the game. The penalty kill started strong for Detroit, but again, Toronto managed to score with less than 20 seconds left in the period.

Third Period

Seventeen seconds into the third, Alexander Kerfoot was left alone at the front of the net and shot the puck in, extending Toronto’s lead to two.

Just over a minute later, Joe Veleno skated to the front of the net and ripped it past the goaltender, getting the Wings back within a goal.

Veleno drew a penalty a few minutes later, giving the Red Wings a shot to even things up with the man advantage. Detroit had some good possessions, getting a couple of solid shots off, but they failed to score.

The Maple Leafs managed to regain their two-goal lead with a two on way chance, as John Tavares scored on an assist from Alexander Kerfoot.

Veleno continued to make his presence felt, sliding past a couple Leafs defenders and sliding a nasty pass to Vladislav Namestnikov, who tipped it in to make it a one goal game.

However, with just over two minutes left, the Maple Leafs took advantage of a Greiss turnover at the front of the net and pushed the lead back up to two.

Detroit refused to go down without a fight. Filip Hronek scored his first goal of the season, slapping a rocket into the net to make it a one goal game. A late penalty by Robby Fabbri sealed the game for the Leafs, and Detroit was handed their third regulation loss of the season.

The Red Wings will stay in Canada for their next game, heading back to Montreal on Tuesday.