Red Wings-Maple Leafs quick take: It was close, it was a learning experience, and it was a ‘fun loss’

The Detroit Red Wings turned around from Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers, boarded Red Bird III and headed to Toronto to play the up-and-down Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

With a Hockey Night in Canada level of hype surrounding the game, the Maple Leafs won, dropping Detroit to 4-3-and-2, but the Red Wings rallied from 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-2 and 5-3 deficits to make it 5-4 as the final score.

To the positive: Joe Veleno scored his first goal and had an assist;

Moritz Seider played 22:27 and was excellent;

Lucas Raymond played 18:26 and was understated;

And Detroit lost, but was hell to play for a Leafs team that had been sitting since Wednesday, waiting for a Wings team that had to fly overnight into Toronto.

Now the Wings head into Montreal to battle a Canadiens team struggling equally badly as compared to Toronto, and next time, maybe the Wings will find some killer instinct instead of playing from behind.

The Red Wings and Maple Leafs iced the following lines…With Detroit scratching Erne, Stecher and Lindstrom (and Bertuzzi due to his COVID vaccination status)…

Projected in Toronto. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8CbVckEvnP— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 30, 2021

Tonight’s lines for the boys in ?#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/HMA6Xif52C— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 30, 2021

The starting lineups consisted of the following players…

In the 1st period…The Red Wings started Rasmussen’s line, with Sam Gagner substituting for Adam Erne, opposite the Marner-Tavares combination.

The puck was dropped between Rasmussen and Tavares, Toronto tied up the draw and we got underway with the Leafs pushing the puck up to center, chipping it in, and Greiss playing the puck around to the left wing side, where it was chipped out to center.

The Leafs cycled deep in the Wings’ zone, Marner blasted a shot wide, and Detroit regrouped and changed at center ice.

The Wings took possession some 51 seconds into the 1st period, and Toronto stood them up at the blueline, chipped and chased, and Staal had to avoid a check with Seider, Larkin and Seider played the puck deeper, and Detroit regrouped again.

Larkin got the first shot of the game in on Petr Mrazek about 1:30 into the game.

Toronto chugged up 4 on 3 and Greiss stopped a shot of his own at 1:35;

And Suter was set up by Zadina for a 1-on-1 attempt with Mrazek that was stifled at 1:52.

As the teams settled in, Toronto was really on its high horse, and Detroit had trouble moving the puck out of trouble as the nexus of play was in Detroit’s zone.

Greiss made TWO big stops on Matthews and company;

Toronto really dominated puck possession over the first 4 minutes of play, and the Wings rotated lines, Seider got away with pulling the stick out of a Leaf’s hands…

Toronto’s Marner and Tavares charged in, and were only stopped by a Wings defender’s skate;

Zadina looked good, but turned the puck over too easily, and with 4:27 gone in the 1st, the shots were 4-2 Toronto.

Toronto continued to crash the Wings’ net, but Rasmussen made a big block;

Namestnikov fed Gagner for a pass for Stephens that was gobbled up by Mrazek;

FYI:

YZERMAN DROVE VELENO TO TORONTO HIMSELF pic.twitter.com/XSEJyoh4Cw— Peter Andrianopoulos (@peterandri) October 30, 2021

As play continued and the 5-minute mark hit, Toronto continued to dominate puck possession, but the Wings were at least battling the shit out of ’em.

Liljegren was stopped by Greiss, Marner was stopped by Greiss, Toronto regrouped at center, Greiss stopped Spezza…

And Veleno worked the puck up to Larkin, he fed DeKeyser free in the slot, and the pass was whiffed on by DeKeyser (surprise);

Staal got held up by a Leaf, and an icing call was waved off;

Ultimately, Toronto was whacking pucks down in the middle of the ice and charging up ice as a 5-man unit, and the Wings could do very little to stop them, other than stand up and use their body position and sticks.

Detroit at least closed the runway toward Thomas Greiss as the 9-minute mark passed;

The D pairs were swapping players, with Oesterle and Staal working together after Staal got a shift with Seider;

Veleno worked the puck to Suter, who tried to feed Zadina, but he was blocked off;

Larkin got a rough ride but wrapped the puck around the net, and Raymond and Fabbri JAMMED AND JAMMED at Mrazek, with Fabbri getting cross-checked by Nick Ritchie as the puck was loose.

No calls, first TV timeout @ 10:15. The shots were 8-3 Toronto and the attempts were 13-4 Toronto.

When play resumed, Larkin, Fabbri and Raymond resumed play, with Seider and DeKeyser paired together, and they surrendered a couple of chances to the Nylander line, but Larkin chugged up ice, found Fabbri, and he got a scoring chance and another scoring chance on Mrazek;

Leddy blasted another shot on Mrazek;

The Leafs’ broadcast, I mean the CBC, blathered on about Tyler Bertuzzi as play resumed, and Detroit managed to stay steady, but it wasn’t easy;

Hello, Red Wings fans, feel like going to the ER with alcohol poisoning? https://t.co/EZPNoA6hYa— George Malik (@georgemalik) October 30, 2021

Toronto was buzzing as best they could in the Wings’ zone, and Detroit was chipping and changing as the 13-minute mark passed;

Fabbri, Larkin and Raymond cycled and got a shot in on Mrazek, but they were about the only Wings unit generating offense;

As play continued, Suter and Zadina worked the puck deep for Smith, Suter cycled, and Mrazek stifled big Givani with 5:57 remaining in the 1st, ushering in another TV timeout.

At the second TV timeout, the shots had narrowed to 9-8 Toronto; attempts were 17-11 Toronto, however.

When play resumed, Detroit’s Rasmussen line hounded the Leafs for possession, but Toronto was hitting Detroit hard and standing up at center ice, so the Wings had some difficulty sorting out their possession.

Veleno got a lone shot in on Mrazek as the Wings changed lines, bringing out the Stephens line vs. Tavares and Marner;

Rowney, Stephens and Gagner worked together as Veleno had been moved up to the Rasmussen line, so there was a lot of shifting of personnel as the period wound down.

Detroit continued to at least keep Toronto off the scoreboard as Larkin, Fabbri and Raymond worked through the Marner line, Staal and Seider pinched, cycled, and Detroit changed;

Detroit was not surprising Toronto, but Toronto was not surprising Detroit.

It was a defensive struggle.

Though Greiss made two big stops off Muzzin and another Leaf with 3 minutes remaining;

Staal and Seider made a bad line change, affording Toronto a 3-on-2, but the Leafs chose to dump and chase, and Hronek and DeKeyser got to hop over the boards without incident;

Veleno worked up the right wing, gave and went with Rasmussen, and Toronto ultimately cleared the zone, but was forced to change in their own end;

Greiss turned the puck over to a Leaf, but he was bailed out by his defense, and then the goalpost opposite Kerfoot (PING);

With 1:29 left in the 1st, the shots were 12-8 Toronto, and Detroit’s hold on the 0-0 tie looked tenuous;

In the final minute of play, Larkin got a shot off on Mrazek, and the rebound came to Fabbri at the blueline. Fabbri walked in and was stifled by Mrazek;

Greiss had to make another big stop with 36.5 left in the 1st, as Ondrej Kase slithered behind Larkin and snuck into the slot;

Gagner, Stephens and Larkin worked the final shift of the period…

And Toronto pushed the puck back to Jake Muzzin as the Leafs worked the perimeter and as Seider chased the Leaf in the slot, and Stephens was run into Greiss, Toronto made it 1-0 with 13.4 left in the 1st.

JAKE MUZZIN ?

MUZZ LIGHTYEAR pic.twitter.com/8mYpFoJOBs— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 30, 2021

“JAAKKEEEE MUZZZZIIIINNN!!” with his first goal of the season!

1-0 #LeafsForever @MantarBhandal & @HarpPandher with the goal call! pic.twitter.com/cXfUVcPTC9— Hockey Night Punjabi (@HkyNightPunjabi) October 30, 2021

No assist for Mitch Marner on Toronto’s first goal but that was a great entry. Great patience and skill to use every second possible to allow Tavares to get to space to receive a pass. pic.twitter.com/zhHwaLEGBm— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) October 31, 2021

Jake Muzzin scored the 1-0 goal from T.J. Brodie and John Tavares at 19:46.

Detroit simply got caught chasing the puck carrier far too regularly on that final shift, and that was deadly.

Down 1 after 20. #DETvsTOR pic.twitter.com/0a3FJikITR— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 30, 2021

First period stats for Detroit and Toronto. Wings trail 1-0. pic.twitter.com/HQr2U6NkQz— George Malik (@georgemalik) October 30, 2021

Trevor Thompson caught up with Joe Veleno after the first period. Veleno is playing in his first game of the season for the @DetroitRedWings. #LGRW | @iamtrevort | @jveleno91 pic.twitter.com/ApS5X9kXAC— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 30, 2021

In the 2nd period…The puck hit the ice at 8:07 PM, and Rasmussen mucked the puck forward, winning the draw(!), Hronek kept the puck in for Rasmussen and Veleno and Namestnikov, and the Leafs chipped the puck down ice;

John Tavares got shaken up behind the play;

Veleno got the Wings’ first shot of the 2nd period some 45 seconds in, and Moritz Seider repeated the process some 5 seconds later;

Seider, Namestnikov, DeKeyser and company cycled, worked the perimeter, and Larkin joined the fray, but Toronto took the puck into Detroit’s end.

Eventually, Fabbri and Larkin and Raymond had to parry a Leafs rush, charge up ice with Oesterle joining the rush, and Toronto stopped Detroit easily.

Nylander was blocked off by Raymond and Fabbri;

Toronto took over as the period progressed, and Griess had to make two quick stops at 2:17;

Stephens, Rowney and Gagner were working more together as the game progressed, and Gagner was able to work a stretch pass into a shot on Mrazek;

Hronek, Leddy and Gagner continued to work the puck around the perimeter, even at center ice, before surrendering it to the Leafs;

Spezza and company were stopped by Greiss in acrobatic fashion;

Toronto cycled, worked the puck down low, Rielly was stopped by Greiss, and Detroit was on the ropes some 3:45 into the 2nd;

Toronto’s crowd got into the game as the 2nd progressed, but they booed the Red Wings fans cheering as well as Greiss made another big stop;

Detroit just looked a step behind as Toronto was able to easily and smoothly push the puck into Detroit’s zone and hold it there.

Ultimately, Detroit was unable to clear the zone, 5 minutes into the 2nd, and Staal and Larkin and Smith and Namestnikov–a rag-tag bunch of linemates–had to take a chip-out as consolation.

Raymond nearly found Fabbri but passed the puck behind Fabbri, who was in alone;

Hronek fed Larkin for a FANTASTIC chance on Mrazek, that was stopped with 5:50 gone in the 2nd:

Mrazek makes the pad save and covers the rebound pic.twitter.com/TUaiolfCql— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

Stephens, Rowney and Gagner got a LOT of ice time as the period progressed, and they did a fairly good job together, working with Oesterle and Hronek, as the lines and D pairs continued to be in flux;

Thankfully, John Tavares hacked Rasmussen at 6:49, giving Detroit its first power play, and the Wings really needed some time to work with the puck in the offensive zone.

On the power play, Gagner drew in for the faceoff, lost it, Zadina and Larkin mucked the puck but could not get control, and Seider had to chug up the ice and work with Raymond to re-set.

Larkin chugged up and in, Seider sent the puck to Zadina, and he was blocked off by Muzzin.

Muzzin gets in the shooting lane and blocks the shot pic.twitter.com/JcAyuF163F— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

On the next faceoff, Toronto’s Kerfoot won the puck, and Moritz Seider fed the puck to a breakaway-fed Leaf, who skated in on Greiss, and hit the goalpost:

Seider did not shirk away from the puck on the offensive side of things, and SEIDER FED FILIP ZADINA FOR THE RED WINGS’ GAME-TYING GOAL.

The man-advantage working well for Filip Zadina. Assists to Moritz Seider (8) and Sam Gagner. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/4Wmf855Z2V— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 31, 2021

Filip Zadina snipes it past the #LeafsForever netminder to tie it up 1-1! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/KZciPlKZyK— Hockey Night Punjabi (@HkyNightPunjabi) October 31, 2021

Welcome to Snipe City. Population: Filip Zadina #NHLOnSN pic.twitter.com/D9QQoUGc10— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 31, 2021

Picked it! #LGRW @zadina_filip pic.twitter.com/NLh2uJSZi9— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 31, 2021

ZADINA scored the 1-1 goal from Seider and Sam Gagner at 8:19 of the 2nd. 1-1.

On the bump-up shift, Greiss had to make a couple of big stops, and Detroit was backed in a second time, with Matthews firing a wrister wide of the net;

Hronek pinched to help Namestnikov and Fabbri feed Rasmussen for a side-of-the-net chance that Mrazek BARELY stifled;

Detroit was then backed in again as the Leafs worked the perimeter, and Toronto’s Sandin tipped the puck JUST wide of the net with Marner passing the puck to Sandin.

Sandin nearly deflected Marner’s shot in pic.twitter.com/nCj8gwas7s— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

Detroit almost got lobbied into a penalty at 9:56 as the Leafs insisted that Robby Fabbri chipped the puck out of play intentionally in the defensive zone, but the puck was deflected;

On the next play, Seider and DeKeyser got a shot in on Mrazek at one end, and had to stop a breakaway pass by the Leafs at the other end of the ice;

Zadina and Suter then connected for a shot attempt that was blocked, and the second TV timeout of the period hit at 10:57.

When play resumed, Toronto cycled the puck into the Wings’ end, but Oesterle backhanded the puck to Rielly, and Kerfoot found Rielly, the puck was blocked by the Wings out to center, and Detroit lived to see another day;

Larkin, Fabbri and Raymond almost stuffed a puck into the net, but the Marner line was able to stop them;

Larkin was STONED by a Leaf defenseman’s stick off a WONDERFUL set-up by RAYMOND;

Matthews raced in alone and was stuffed by Greiss:

Matthews is heating up here pic.twitter.com/8VoOOKHJbp— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

Mostly, Detroit was still struggling to win faceoffs, and the Leafs were afforded first-punch status as a result.

Rasmussen was cross-checked by a Leaf, sans call, and that directly led to a scoring chance for Toronto. NO call.

14 minutes into the 2nd period, Gagner was picked, and there was NO call;

Seider did get picked off a couple of times in the 2nd period, affording Moritz a couple of learning lessons…

As play continued, Zadina, Suter and Fabbri coalesced as a unit, but did not generate any offense;

Toronto’s Kase skated in 2-on-1 and was BLOCKED by Oesterle, who was then interfered with by Kase, NO CALL;

Toronto continued to possess the puck, and Engvall was blocked by Larkin, but the Wings could not clear the puck until Marc Staal flipped the puck out of trouble and Detroit’s first line changed, having been backed into its own zone again;

Robby Fabbri was getting double shifted with Raymond and Larkin, and Fabbri tried to set up Raymond for a tap-in, but he was blocked off by Mitch Marner:

Mitch Marner to the rescue pic.twitter.com/2FM9lhYHT4— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

Detroit at least managed to muck the puck into the slot with Stephens, Rowney and Gagner working well together, but the Leafs cleared the puck, and the Wings regrouped behind their own net;

With 2:30 left in the period, Staal held the puck in for Gagner, Stephens fed Oesterle, and he sent the puck JUST WIDE of Mrazek;

Then Toronto tagged up and Brodie backhanded a puck wide of Greiss;

Detroit was then called for a penalty as Rasmussen got caught for slashing at 18:01.

On the penalty-kill, Stephens and Gagner worked with DeKeyser and Seider, they won the initial faceoff, they battled the puck to center ice, regrouped, and, when Toronto set up, Detroit cleared the zone easily and changed.

35 seconds into the PK, it changed, and Matthews, Rielly, Marner, Tavares and Nylander set up.

Suter made a good play to clear the zone after a good block by Hronek;

Spezza then helped the cause, but turned the puck over to Stephens, who cleared the zone;

Sandin and Spezza worked the puck to Bunting, Sandin found Spezza, he was blocked by Seider, Spezza sent the puck to Bunting, and he tipped the puck in for a 2-1 goal.

MICHAEL BUNTING ?

POWER PLAY GOAL pic.twitter.com/9JiIEsJAfi— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

A bunt from Bunts and the #Leafs have a 2-1 lead heading to the 3rd period vs. #RedWings!

?: @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/B76W94G5HX— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) October 31, 2021

Right place. Right time.

Michael Bunting gives the @MapleLeafs the lead late in the second. ? #NHLOnSN pic.twitter.com/SuqsSrj20C— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 31, 2021

Spezza set up Michael Bunting, who made it 2-1 on the power play with 17.1 left in the 2nd period. Nick Ritchie got the other assist.

Greiss had to make a couple more big stops as the Wings were sent reeling into the 2nd intermission, with Filip Hronek’s arm hacked heavily, sans call.

Toronto gets one late on the power play as we head to the second intermission. #DETvsTOR pic.twitter.com/9roLlgfDc0— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 31, 2021

2nd period stats. Detroit down 2-1 to Toronto after 2. pic.twitter.com/sRPUA2UZxC— George Malik (@georgemalik) October 31, 2021

In the 3rd period…Detroit began with the Suter line on the ice, with Zadina and Rowney together, and the Leafs cycled…

And John Tavares picked up the dump-in, two players went to Tavares, and no one covered Alex Kerfoot in the slot. Kerfoot chipped the puck over Greiss to make it 3-1.

ALEX KERFOOT ?

What a feed from Tavares pic.twitter.com/BC44dsP3Hp— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

All of 17 seconds into the 3rd, Kerfoot scored from Tavares to make it 3-1. Toronto had scored 2 goals in 35 seconds of game time, per Ken Daniels.

The Red Wings put out the Larkin line for the following shift, and it at least parried the Toronto rush, but Namestnikov and Rasmussen and Veleno came out…

AND RASMUSSEN CHIPPED AND NAMESTNIKOV CHASED, RASMUSSEN CLEARED THE PUCK TO THE FRONT OF THE NET AND JOE VELENO TOOK THE PUCK AND CHIPPED IT OVER MRAZEK TO MAKE IT 3-2.

OK, JOE! pic.twitter.com/4v2ig2M7ks— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 31, 2021

Joe Veleno gets one back pic.twitter.com/003f1k1Ohx— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

Joe Veleno returns to the @DetroitRedWings and immediately makes his presence felt. #LGRW | @jveleno91 pic.twitter.com/GsbOWIEFXU— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 31, 2021

Called up in the morning, road trip with Steve Yzerman during the day, and a trip to the scoresheet in the evening.

Pretty solid Saturday for Joe Veleno. #NHLOnSN pic.twitter.com/tMB3dbSbxR— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 31, 2021

Rasmussen and Namestnikov assisted on Joe Veleno’s first goal at 1:36, making it 3-2.

ON the bump-up shift, Seider nearly scored, Veleno, Rasmussen and Namestnikov remained on the ice, working with Hronek and Leddy, and after Hronek was hit hard, Leddy chugged the puck up ice, wrapped the puck around the net, and the puck was tipped into the crowd…

As play continued, and the 3rd period settled in, some 3:10 into said period, Detroit seemed to be getting the better of the puck possession, and the Wings worked the puck deep, with Raymond, Larkin and Fabbri cycling…

Larkin put a shot off Mrazek;

Oesterle, who had a good game, helped Raymond and Staal and company push the puck out of the pile and into a rush that Veleno nearly scored upon…

And Veleno drew a penalty on T.J. Brodie at 4:28 for holding as Veleno rushed toward the net and was grabbed.

On the power play…

Detroit lost the initial faceoff, but Suter stole the puck, Leddy was blocked, regrouped at his own blueline, fed Fabbri, Leddy fed Hronek, for a shot that was blocked, Suter fed Leddy…

Fabbri worked the puck to Hronek, to Leddy, to Fabbri for a shot that was stifled by Mrazek, Fabbri worked the puck to Leddy, he stopped, regained the puck from Hronek, Fabbri put the puck off the outside of the net, and Hronek continued to work the perimeter…

Hronek fed Fabbri and he put the puck over the net;

Toronto cleared and Detroit changed units some 1:40 into the PP;

Zadina, Raymond, Gagner, Larkin and Seider ground the puck into the corner, won it free, Larkin fed the puck for Gagner, Raymond fed Seider to Zadina and he was stopped by Mrazek…

Who wiggled his helmet off as Dylan Larkin had his stick slashed out of his hands.

Mrazek makes the save with his mask pic.twitter.com/LCOdqWEZ3Q— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

A TV timeout was called instead of a penalty to Mrazek, or the player who chopped Larkin’s stick out of his hands.

Detroit then lost the post-TV-timeout faceoff, Toronto worked the puck into the Wings’ zone, Nylander centered it and Greiss made an amazing stop and SEIDER MADE AN AMAZING CLEAR.

Thomas Greiss and Moritz Seider, teamwork. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/psY3WUvadx— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 31, 2021

*Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme* pic.twitter.com/V7pXebVF0J— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

Detroit just got away with murder, basically speaking, and some 7:30 into the 3rd period, Oesterle and company were working the puck deep for a rare shift by Smith, Gagner and Stephens, and the Leafs worked a 2-on-1…

So Tavares and Rielly set up each other for a lovely passing play in which Kerfoot fed Tavares for the 4-2 marker.

Kerfoot ➡️ Tavares!

It’s a 3-point night for the Cap. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/vQXTJB3c4e— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) October 31, 2021

As good as a full bag of candy corn ?#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/iPGY2wVSr7— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 31, 2021

Tavares scored from Kerfoot and Rielly at 7:47, making it 4-2.

It was a bad pinch by Staal that yielded the mess-up.

As play continued, and the Leafs fans frenzied themselves, Detroit slowly but surely tried to hack their way back into the game, and Detroit continued to surrender rushes to Toronto, which was a big problem.

Ultimately, Toronto was able to hold up the Wings in the offensive zone, and Jordan Oesterle blocked the Leafs clearing attempt, he fed Joe Veleno and Veleno sent the puck deep to Vladislav Namestnikov, who tipped the 4-3 goal through Mrazek.

The @DetroitRedWings aren’t throwing in the towel just yet… ?#NHLOnSN pic.twitter.com/vbNDZJW42x— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 31, 2021

Vladislav Namestnikov pulls the @DetroitRedWings within one. Jordan Oesterle and Joe Veleno assist. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/oJWRgQ9Eko— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 31, 2021

Namestnikov made it 4-3 from Veleno and Oesterle at 10:11 of the 3rd.

The Leafs were FURIOUS for two reasons–they thought they were being called for a penalty as well–but the refs called the Rasmussen high stick on Namestnikov correctly, and so play resumed at even strength with 9 minutes remaining.

Keefe: GET BACK HERE AND OVERTURN THAT pic.twitter.com/SgIrYHJ5O6— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2021

With 8:31 left in the 3rd, the Leafs went back to TV timeout, and Detroit essentially worked the TV timeout like a timeout, with Tanguay preaching to the choir…

Detroit was backed in again by the Leafs as the 8-minute mark hit, and Toronto really worked the perimeter well, but Detroit was blocking slot shots and slot passes, so Toronto had to regroup.

Leddy, Hronek, Raymond, Larkin and Fabbri worked the puck in deep, they cycled, and Toronto came out with the puck, Matthews and Holl pushed it deeper, cycled, reversed, and Raymond broke that up.

With 6:45 remaining, the Wings changed lines, but Larkin didn’t care, working the puck deep himself;

Toronto probably got away with an offside, and Detroit negated it by stealing back control of the puck;

Seider flipped a chipper in on Mrazek, and he held on with 6:03 remaining.

Greiss made a big stop and Smith, Stephens and Gagner went the other way, cycled, and Staal fired a heavy shot on Mrazek that Smith was unable to bury;

With 5 minutes remaining, DeKeyser fanned on a shot, and Detroit had to tag up as a result;

Veleno fed Namestnikov, who was tripped, Veleno tipped the puck, held it in, and Rasmussen was called offside with 4:47 remaining.

In the final five minutes of regulation play, Larkin came out and won an offensive zone faceoff from Tavares, Mrazek stopped Raymond, Raymond and Fabbri battled the puck deep, and Toronto chipped and chased;

Fabbri fed Larkin, but he was elbowed in the face by Muzzin, no call…

Auston Matthews nearly scored on a rush for Toronto;

Matthews fed Nylander once, then Muzzin got a shot off that was blocked, Muzzin walked deep, fed Matthews, Liljegren and company cycled, with 3:25 remaining, Detroit chipped and hanged;

Suter, Seider, and Zadina could not connect;

Leddy battled Spezza with Seider’s help, and Rasmussen cleared the zone;

With 2:55 remaining, Sandin skated the puck out of his zone, Toronto skated in, and Greiss grabbed the puck with 2:46 remaining…

Stephens did what many did–lose a faceoff–and Greiss got hit in the head with the puck as a result, but the puck stayed out;

Greiss then stopped a dump-in, and Tavares, Kerfoot and Marner worked the puck deep…THOMAS GREISS flubbed the puck trying to give it to Nick Leddy backhanded, and Leddy gave the puck to Kerfoot, who sent the puck in front to Mitch Marner, who made it 5-3.

Marner with his 1⃣st goal of the season! #Leafs are up 5-3 over the #RedWings! pic.twitter.com/ADBZ0hXlrw— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) October 31, 2021

Marner salted away the game at 17:55 of the 3rd. Toronto led 5-3.

Detroit did pull Greiss with 1:39 left, and the Wings had to muck the puck deep, Zadina and Seider fed Larkin right half wall, his pass was blocked off going to Fabbri, Seider fed Raymond, and Detroit got the puck to Zadina, for Seider, back to Zadina, he twisted to Larkin, and his shot was stopped, Raymond was blocked off, Larkin fired a puck in off Engvall, and it was cleared with 49.2 remaining.

The final faceoff was delayed as Larkin was kicked out, Toronto won the faceoff, and Detroit got possession, but Marner fell over, hand passed the puck back, and Toronto cleared to the line, Zadina found RAYMOND AND HRONEK SCORED WITH 28.3 REMAINING.

Filip Hronek gets the @DetroitRedWings within one with the extra attacker. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/WWV0BuwTMj— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 31, 2021

FILIP HRONEK SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL IN 81 games with a goalie in the net to make it 5-4 with 28.3 remaining. Raymond and Zadina had assists.

The Wings won the draw, chipped, let Greiss out, and Detroit ground, ground, ground, Larkin and Raymond could not hold it in, and Detroit was called for a penalty.

Robby Fabbri sat at 19:47, and Toronto won 5-4.

Detroit is learning.

A close one and now onto Montreal. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/JhVrykjHcJ— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 31, 2021

Final from Toronto. pic.twitter.com/rfVJyBh3s8— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 31, 2021

Next up: Montréal on Tuesday.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/dwyWq3fAgj— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 31, 2021

Statistics: Here are the Game Summary and Event Summary:

Published by

George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, when MLive hired me to work their SlapShots blog, and I joined Kukla's Korner in 2011 as The Malik Report. I'm starting The Malik Report as a stand-alone site, hoping that having my readers fund the website is indeed the way to go to build a better community and create better content.