Red Wings end season on sour note with OT loss to Maple Leafs

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Apr 17, 2025

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

And that'll be it for the Red Wings' 2024-25 regular season.

Fittingly, somewhat disappointing.

Toronto defenseman Chris Tanev scored his third goal of the season with two seconds left in regulation time to force overtime, then forward Scott Laughton — who scored four goals in a game against the Wings earlier this season while in Philadelphia — scored the overtime winner at 56 seconds, rallying Toronto to a 4-3 victory.

The loss left the Wings short of 40 victories — they ended 39-35-8, 86 points — and finished the regular season on a 6-2-2 run over their last 10 games.

But, most importantly, the Wings are heading home and into the offseason — and not the playoffs. They were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention Saturday for the ninth consecutive season, the longest playoff drought in the organization's history.

That matters most to everyone around the organization. And that will again sting, especially after missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker on the final night of the 2023-24 season and going into this season with bigger expectations.

There will be a long offseason to figure out to how improve and end the drought.

Thursday, it was about heading into the summer on a good note — and the Wings just missed so.

Justin Holl had a goal (second of the season) and assist, Austin Watson (third goal), and Alex DeBrincat (power play) added Wings goals, and goaltender Cam Talbot stopped 16 shots.

DeBrincat's goal was his 39th, capping an outstanding season. DeBrincat one-timed a pass from Moritz Seider to give the Wings a 3-1 lead at 5:50 of the second period.

The only negative for the Wings was an injury to Lucas Raymond in the first period. Raymond lost an edge and went crashing shoulder first into the boards. Raymond was limited to nine shifts and 5:45 of playing time

Auston Matthews and Philippe Myers had the other goals for the Leafs (51-27-4).

The Leafs limited the ice time of star forwards Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares as they kept one eye on Sunday's start of the playoffs.