Sports
Red Wings top Maple Leafs on electric Saturday night at LCA
Detroit — The Red Wings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday behind an unlikely offensive source.
Defenseman Jeff Petry scored his first two goals of the season, including the tiebreaker in the third period, lifting the Wings to a 4-2 victory in front of a loud and enthusiastic sellout crowd at Little Caesars Arena.
Just after Toronto had tied the score 2-2 on a Matthew Knies’ redirect goal at 1:07, Petry banged in a rebound of Joe Veleno’s shot at 1:51, regaining the lead for the Wings.
Lucas Raymond scored his 12th goal into an empty net with 1.6 seconds left.
The win moved the Wings to 12-14-4 and was their second victory in the last eight games (2-4-2) and opened an important homestand (seven of eight games at LCA) with an emotional victory.
“It’s a big win for us,” Petry said. “We’ve been on the losing end of few games that we probably played well enough to win. To play a game like that and get the result, it’s big for our group.”
Goaltender Ville Husso made it stand, making 24 saves. None was bigger than Husso stopping Mitch Marner on a breakaway with about 12 minutes to play and the Wings holding the 3-2 lead.
It was Husso’s first NHL victory since Dec. 12, 2023, after he went through a calendar year of injuries, being sent down to the minors earlier this season, and losing his first six decisions this season (1-4-2).
“It’s been a kind of a tough go there for the last year,” Husso said. “Just keep grinding. Do your job and it’s not always going to be easy, but it’s nice to get the win for sure.”
Coach Derek Lalonde was thrilled for Husso, and a Wings team that needed a victory like that.
“We’re trying to get some traction any way you can, so that’s two of three (wins) now, and against a good team and good team that had its ‘A’ game,” Lalonde said. “Their great players were on. I give our guys a lot of credit. I’m glad we flipped one here.
“We’re looking for traction. You guys have sat here and seen the frustration. We went through a stretch with the same message, that we weren’t playing poorly and the process is OK. But not doing enough. That gets old and you have to start winning some hockey games and we’ve done that.
“(Ville) has played some good hockey for us this year and yet to get a win. It’s been over a year through injury and adversity. We’re really happy for him and his performance.”
A key turning point in the first period was the Wings challenging Marner’s goal that would have tied the score 1-1. The Wings felt Matthews was offside on the play — and video confirmed it was, erasing the Toronto goal.
“Huge,” Lalonde said. “They (the Wings’ video staff) didn’t have the right view and we were going to pass on it. Then literally the words ‘Sportnet’s got a view it’s offsides,’ and that’s how it played out. We finally got a view and saw it. Good on the video guys.”
BOX SCORE: Red Wings 4, Maple Leafs 2
Moritz Seider broke a 1-1 tie with just 17.8 seconds left in the second period. The Wings capitalized on a sloppy Leafs breakout, and sprung Patrick Kane carrying the puck down wing. Kane found Andrew Copp with a pass through the slot and Copp saw Seider pinching, Seider slamming his fourth goal through a defenseless goaltender Joseph Woll.
Kane’s assist ended a nine-game point drought.
Toronto tied the score earlier in the period on Auston Matthews’ power-play goal.
Marner patiently controlled the puck, loosened the Wings’ penalty kill, and found Matthews just above the goal line, where Matthews fired his 10th goal at 11:40.
Petry opened the scoring with his first goal of the season. Petry snapped a shot from the point that appeared to deflect off a stick and change direction on Woll at 9:07.
As usual, Leafs fans came out in force for a home game at LCA between these two teams and it being Saturday night and televised by “Hockey Night in Canada,” the atmosphere was more special than usual.
“It was unreal,” Husso said. “Both sides actually, it felt like a battle on the ice and off the ice too. Our fans were great tonight. It was unbelievable and especially to get the win for them as well.”
With Sunday being a complete off day, many Wings players will head to Ford Field for the Lions’ game against the Buffalo Bills. For Lalonde it’s a no-lose situation, as the upstate New York native is a huge Bills fan but has grown into a passionate Lions fan..
“I’m excited to go, I’ll be very neutral,” Lalonde said. “My two favorite teams are playing. We’ll enjoy the game as family.”
A prediction?
“Tie,” Lalonde said. “There will be some points.”
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
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