THE Detroit Red Wings bounced back in a big way from Saturday night’s 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs by a final score of 3-2 in overtime thanks to the heroics of defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
Edvinsson intercepted a clearing attempt from Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby just inside the blue line and then skated around Leafs forward Matias Maccelli before finally swinging around an outstretched Hildeby and depositing a backhand shot into the open net for the game-winning tally.
That was especially meaningful for Edvinsson, who was severely hampered in the second period after blocking a shot from Maple Leafs team captain Auston Matthews and needed help getting off the ice.
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With the win, the Red Wings improved to 23-14-3 and took a two-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning to take the division lead.
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It was the Maple Leafs who scored first in the second period after a scoreless first 20 minutes of play, as Matthew Knies beat goaltender Cam Talbot on the fifth hole.
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Moritz Seider evened the score with just under a minute left in the period, as his shot from the point beat the screened Hildeby.
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The Maple Leafs restored the one-goal lead in the third period after Nic Robertson fired a shot past Talbot, but their lead was short-lived thanks to Red Wings forward Mason Appleton’s first goal since Oct. 15.
Appleton scored the game-winner against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Oct. 13, scoring with less than a minute remaining in regulation to break a 2-2 tie.
Talbot won his second straight start for the Red Wings, making 25 saves. Hildeby responded with 33 saves.
The Red Wings will be off until New Year’s Eve when they host the Winnipeg Jets at Little Caesars Arena.
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