John Tavares scored with 5:33 remaining to complete a Toronto comeback as the Maple Leafs downed the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in the NHL Global Series Sweden on Friday in Stockholm.
William Nylander, one of five Swedes on the Leafs’ roster, had the tying goal and assisted on two others as Toronto erased a 2-0 third-period deficit. Ex-Red Wing Tyler Bertuzzi had the other Toronto goal.
Tavares’ game-winner was set up by Bertuzzi. He won a puck battle behind the Wings’ net and backhanded a pass to Tavares. Nylander had the other assist.
Daniel Sprong scored on a penalty shot for Detroit. Lucas Raymond, the only Swede on the Wings’ roster, had the other goal.
Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves for Toronto. Alex Lyon, in his first start of the season, stopped 26 shots for Detroit.
Detroit defenseman Jake Walman crashed into the Wings net midway through the second period and did not return.
The Wings had a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal during the scoreless first period. They went 0-for-2 on the power play and killed off one penalty.
Sprong’s penalty shot ended the scoreless deadlock with 7:08 remaining in the second period. The penalty shot was awarded when Toronto’s Morgan Rielly intentionally put his glove on the puck in the Leafs’ goal crease. Sprong skated around a sprawled Samsonov and tucked the puck into the net.
Less than two minutes later, Raymond whistled a shot from the left circle past Samsonov’s glove. Ben Chiarot and Alex DeBrincat picked up the assists.
Toronto broke through with 16:10 remaining in regulation. Nylander skated in from near the blue line and flipped a pass to Bertuzzi, who tapped the puck in near the crease. Tavares picked up the secondary assist.
David Kampf nearly tied it moments later when his shot banged off the crossbar.
With Detroit’s Moritz Seider in the penalty box for tripping, Nylander scored from the slot with 6:57 remaining, lifting a shot over Lyon’s right shoulder. Mitch Marner and Tavares picked up the assists.
–Field Level Media