Red Wings defeat Maple Leafs in overtime, spoil Muzzin debut

DETROIT --The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, spoiling the debut of defenseman Jake Muzzin.

Danny DeKeyser took a pass from Gustav Nyquist and tucked the puck home for his second goal of the season at 2:40 to win it for Detroit.
"In 3-on-3, everyone is playing defense against one guy, so when Gus made that great play to beat his guy, it meant we were going to have someone open," DeKeyser said. "He got me the puck, and I just wanted to get the shot off before anyone got to me."
WATCH: [All Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings highlights]
Muzzin, acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, had two blocked shots in 18:08.
"It's going to be an adjustment, not just from sand to snow, but to a team that is so much faster," Muzzin said. "As a defenseman, it is great to know that when those guys break out, I can lead them with the puck because they are going to go and get it."
Patrick Marleau tied the game 2-2 at 17:41 of the third period for Toronto, deflecting in Auston Matthews' shot.
"That would have felt a lot better in a win," Marleau said. "It was our first game back and we had to shake off some rust."

Each team was returning from its mandatory five-day break after 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend. The Red Wings were playing for the first time in 10 days, and the Maple Leafs for the first time in nine days.
Dylan Larkin and Nyquist scored, and Andreas Athanasiou had a NHL career-high three assists for the Red Wings (20-25-7), who have won four of six since losing 13 of the previous 15. Jimmy Howard made 19 saves.
"You never know how you are going to respond to having that much time off, especially since we were winning some games before the break," Nyquist said. "We came out with great energy, though. It helps when we play Toronto because there's a great atmosphere. We have a lot of fans in the building and they have a lot of fans, so it is always crazy."

Frederik Andersen made 30 saves for Toronto (30-17-3), which has lost five of seven.
"I don't think it was a smoothly executed game," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "It looked like two teams who had a week off, but I really didn't like our first period or our overtime."
Nyquist gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 8:14 of the second period when he knocked in Athanasiou's pass.
Matthews tied it 1-1 at 18:11 when he snapped a pass from Marleau.
"That's the same Patty I played against for so many years out West," Muzzin said. "He's still got his speed, and he's seen everything and done everything. That's how he gets into position to make those plays."

Larkin made it 2-1 with a power-play goal at 13:31 of the third period off a pass from Thomas Vanek.
"Thomas plays offense at a very special level," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "I don't know how many other players would have even seen that pass, much less been able to make it."

They said it

"It is tough to play a game when you've had seven days off and only one practice before a game, but they were doing the same thing, so that's not an excuse. At least we battled back and forced overtime, so there are some positives we can take from this game." -- Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews
"I've thought we were playing at a good to very good level for a while now even when we weren't getting the results. I told the guys that if we stuck to it, wins would come, especially if we improve the specialty teams. Tonight, the PK was tremendous, and the power play got us a goal." -- Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill

Need to know

Nyquist has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his past six games. … Larkin has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past six games. … DeKeyser has three overtime goals, one behind Niklas Kronwall and Nicklas Lidstrom for the most in Red Wings history. … The Red Wings retired Hall of Famer
Red Kelly's No. 4
in a pregame ceremony. Of the nine NHL players who have won the Stanley Cup seven or more times, Kelly is the only one to do it for a team other than the Montreal Canadiens. He won four with the Red Wings as a defenseman and four with the Maple Leafs as a center. "I've played [seven] years as a defenseman in this league and I can't even imagine switching to center," DeKeyser said. "To do what he did, and to play at that level at both positions shows what a special player he was."

What's next

Maple Leafs:Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, CBC, SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)
Red Wings:At the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CITY, TVAS, FS-D+, NHL.TV)