Achi news desk-
Patrick Kane scored the game-winner on a shootout in Detroit’s 5-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens in their regular season finale on Tuesday, but the Red Wings were eliminated from the playoffs.
The Red Wings entered the night tied with Washington for second in the Eastern Conference with 89 points. The Capitals, however, held the tiebreaker over Detroit with more wins in regulation and clinched the final playoff spot with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
Detroit missed the playoffs eight straight seasons.
Daniel Sprong had a goal and an assist, while Moritz Seider, Joe Velno and David Perron also scored for Detroit (41-32-9). The Red Wings pulled off a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory over the Canadiens on home ice the day before, with Lucas Raymond scoring a game-tying goal on a goalie save before burying the game-winner in overtime.
James Reimer stopped 29 shots.
Brendan Gallagher and George Slepkowski had a goal and an assist, while Alex Newhoek and Cole Cofield also scored for Montreal (30-36-16). Kayden Primeau made 36 saves.
Canada fans got a first look at some developing blueliners in the organization. Logan Mailloux made his NHL debut after spending the entire season with the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket. The 21-year-old had one assist for his first NHL point.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Lane Hutson showed off his moves, received a standing ovation and produced a crucial assist playing at Bell Center for the first time. He made his debut in Detroit, where he had one assist.
Down 3-2 after 40 minutes, the Red Wings tied the game 3:31 into the third period with a shot from behind the net that lowered Primeau’s pads into the net.
Slepkowski gave Montreal the lead with his 20th of the season, deflecting a point shot from Hutson at 12:46.
With their season on the line, the Red Wings pulled the goaltender with 1:48 remaining, hoping to pull off a late comeback in Monday’s game. And they did.
After Montreal iced the puck, Perron scored with 3.3 seconds left on a one-timer from the point to force overtime and keep the Red Wings’ season alive for a moment.
Newhawk opened the scoring 11:32 into the first period. Mailloux sent a stretch pass to Gallagher, who fed Newhawk a one-timer on a 2-on-1.
Moritz Seider equalized with 1:31 to go with a shot from the point after a feed from David Seward.
Montreal regained the lead at 6:17 of the second when Gallagher deflected a shot from Joel Armia that trickled through Reimer toward the goal line.
Newhawk nearly scored his second of the game midway through the frame, but hit the post with his shot after a smooth move on the side wall.
Caufield doubled the lead with his 28th at 10:09. Reimer stretched the cushion to rob George Slepkowski’s one-timer after a slick feed from Nick Suzuki, but Caufield was on the doorstep to bury the rebound.
Velano put Detroit back up 36 seconds later, scoring past a confused Primeau during a late penalty by Montreal.
Later in the period, Reimer denied McCoffield a one-timer by stretching to make a highlight-reel save, losing his stick, to keep the Red Wings down by one.
Mailloux’s debut
Mailello was recalled by the Canadiens on Monday night and needed official clearance from the NHL to play on Tuesday.
Windsor, Ont. A native was fined by Swedish authorities in 2020 after pleading guilty to two charges related to sharing, without her consent, an image of a woman performing a sexual act.
Montreal, then under general manager Marc Bergevin, was heavily criticized for drafting Mailello with the 31st pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft despite the blueliner publicly asking not to be selected.
Connected worlds?
If healthy, Canadian defenseman Kaiden Gohl said he would represent Canada at the World Championships May 10-26 in the Czech Republic.
The 22-year-old from Edmonton missed the final seven games of the season with a head injury, he noted. Gol finished with 22 points in 70 games.
“That’s the plan,” Gol said before the game. “It’s always an honor to wear the Maple Leafs and I always thought it was a cool and different scenario at Worlds, just giving guys a chance to play some big games that didn’t really get the chance to.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 16, 2024.
