First Period

The special teams got to work early in this game.

A close call:

Nylander drew a penalty, but the Leafs did not come that close.

The Red Wings put on huge pressure and got rewarded.

The Leafs answered back with a great cycle that started with a clean zone exit pass to a player with speed and room to move. Mitch Marner thought he had a goal, but it was clearly offside on review.

After one, it was 1-0 Detroit on a game very even in shots, but not in quality at five-on-five. Very close in all-situations, though.

Second Period

Auston Matthews lost a skate blade and Jake McCabe came to his rescue.

Bobby McMann with a great chance he can't elevate.

The fourth line pinned in the Red Wings, so the Leafs put the John Tavares line out. Good to see that fourth line working as they can like that. That's what gets ignored to make the "depth scoring" narrative.

Auston Matthews scores like it's easy:

Leafs poured on the offence late in the period, but no luck adding to the goal total.

A good pass caught Joe Woll going the wrong way, and the Red Wings took the lead:

After two is was 2-1 Detroit.

Still a very close game in terms of shots and Expected Goals, but Detroit has had one more goal go in. That counted.

Third Period

The goals came fast in the third.

Incredible tip on incredible shot.

Jeff Petry struck again. Unsupported, Woll couldn't get to everything.

Petry again, and he drew a penalty on Conor Timmins.

Marner got a break just as the penalty ended, but Ville Husso had it, and almost immediately, he takes a tripping penalty.

Woll came out with two minutes left. The Leafs put on their big push, but nothing dangerous ensued. Red Wings iced the puck missing the empty net.

Eventually they fill it. Final score was 4-2.

The Leafs played the Red Wings to a draw in Expected Goals, and when you do that, you can't expect to win very often without a goalie stealing it.

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