Scott Laughton scored 56 seconds into overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs came back to defeat the visiting Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Thursday night in the regular-season finale for teams.
Auston Matthews, Philippe Myers and Christopher Tanev also scored for the Maple Leafs (52-26-4, 108 points). Mitchell Marner and Matthew Knies each added two assists and Joseph Woll made 31 saves.
Tanev scored at 19:58 of the third period to force overtime as Toronto overcame a 3-1 deficit.
Justin Holl had a goal and an assist and Austin Watson and Alex DeBrincat also scored for the Red Wings (39-35-8, 86 points). Cam Talbot stopped 16 shots.
The Maple Leafs clinched first in the Atlantic Division on Tuesday and at times played a loose game on Thursday.
The Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend and played with slightly more intensity.
Knies, going for his 30th goal of the season, clanked a shot off the right goal post at 6:50 of the first period after a Detroit giveaway.
Knies did set up a goal at 17:53 of the first. He slid a pass from the left circle to Matthews who switched to his backhand as he skated past the net and flipped the puck past Talbot.
Watson tied the game at 19:19 of the first with a clever seven-foot backhand high into the net.
Holl, a former Maple Leaf, put a long floating shot from the right point over Woll’s glove at 2:16 of the second period to give Detroit the lead. It was Holl’s first goal since Nov. 29.
DeBrincat’s shot from the left circle beat a screened Woll at 5:50 of the second during a power play. It was his 39th of the season. Toronto’s John Tavares was serving a holding penalty.
Myers scored a stylish goal, weaving through traffic from the point before slipping the puck past Ward from 10 feet at 3:43 of the free-flowing third period.
The Red Wings staged a flurry and tested Woll a few times as their season was expiring.
Woll was removed for an extra attacker with about a minute left and Tanev tied the game.
Toronto opens the first round of the playoffs at home against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
