Red Wings keep playoff hopes alive with heroic win in Toronto

In a game that quite literally had everything on the line, the Detroit Red Wings toppled the mighty Toronto Maple Leafs in a divisional showdown. After the first period, it seemed like Detroit was on cruise control once they jumped on the Leafs early. A pair of goals from Alex DeBrincat, who had been on quite a cold spell, and a beauty from youngster Simon Edvinsson helped put the Red Wings up 4-1. 

But the second period hit Detroit in the face like a cup of ice water. It has notoriously been the weakest period as far as goal differential has gone this season. Toronto took advantage of that and climbed back into the game to tie it up at 4. Austin Matthews added to his goal-scoring total in pursuit of 70 on the season by notching one on the board to put him at 69 goals on the season. 

The third period seemed to slow down the pace of the game, with both teams making a lot of safe, low-risk plays until Patrick Kane took a late high-sticking penalty that forced the Red Wing's penalty kill to step up and put their bodies on the line. After a successful kill, Alex DeBrincat was tripped up in the neutral zone with only seconds left in regulation. You could almost feel what was about to happen.

With a 4-on-3 man advantage in overtime and all the open ice for Detroit to operate, it felt like destiny for the Red Wings to seal the game. And that is exactly what captain Dylan Larkin did from a feed from Kane towards the front of the net. The puck squeaked through Samsonov’s 5-hole. With help from Larkin’s Nana, who was in attendance, the Red Wings faithful sprung to their feet while simultaneously exhaling, knowing just how close they had come to being eliminated from the wildcard race. 

The fate of the season comes down to the back-to-back games vs. Montreal.

Currently, Detroit has 87 points with two games remaining (both against Montreal on Monday and Tuesday), which is tied with Washington and Philadelphia, who will play each other before the end of the season. With one of those teams guaranteed at least two more points, Detroit is forced to win both of its remaining games against Montreal to have a chance to wrap up the final wild-card spot. 

The first battle between the Canadiens and the Red Wings will occur at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Let's hope we get to see the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference come down to the final day of the regular season.