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Lucas Raymond delivered again to maintain the Detroit Red Wings‘ chase for an NHL playoff spot alive.
Raymond’s aim with 1:17 left in regulation Monday staved off elimination and his winner in time beyond regulation gave the Wings a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens within the common season finale at Little Caesars Area. The Wings (40-32-9) now have 89 factors.
The Wings overcame a shaky begin, gifting their opponent simple offense, however J.T. Compher helped out with a pair of push-back objectives. Alex DeBrincat minimize it to 4-3 when he scored his twenty seventh aim of the season halfway by the third interval. The Wings pulled goalie Alex Lyon with 2:20 to play for an additional attacker in desperation. That paid off with Raymond firing a puck excessive into Montreal’s internet, lower than per week after his hat trick in Pittsburgh obtained the Wings a much-needed level.
Followers did what they could, chanting ever louder. An octopus landed on the ice halfway by the third interval. Then one other.
If the Wings misplaced in regulation, they’d have been eradicated from the playoffs. Now their Tuesday sport in Montreal issues — however they nonetheless want outdoors assist to advance, because the race for the Eastern Conference’s last spot is extremely tight. The Washington Capitals (89 factors, one sport left) and Penguins (88 factors, one sport left) additionally received Monday.
To make the playoffs for the primary time since 2016, the Wings likely must again defeat the Canadiens, and would nonetheless want the Capitals to lose at Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Wings might additionally get in with one level, however would wish a number of assist from different groups.
READ MORE:Lucas Raymond building his value with Red Wings: ‘He’s our game decider’
Dicey begin
Whereas the Wings had their playoff hopes on the road, the Canadiens (30-36-15) had nothing however enjoyable. Their looseness confirmed as they got here out and constructed a lead inside 5 minutes. Throughout a battle in entrance of Detroit’s internet, Patrick Kane missed on an opportunity to clear the puck and as an alternative Brendan Gallagher tapped in Lane Hutson’s shot on internet at 4:25. At 6:15, Justin Barron scored off the frenzy, pulling down a go from Josh Anderson and sending the puck into the Wings’ internet off the crossbar. That made it two objectives on three pictures.
Stemming momentum
Given how the Habs had been rolling, it was key for the Wings to get one again as quickly as doable. It was Compher who got here by with a aim at 8:11. Ben Chiarot fired the puck in from the blue line; DeBrincat tried to beat Sam Montembeault from the left facet, and Compher succeeded on the fitting facet to succeed in 18 objectives on the season. The Wings settled down after that, and did a greater job with workforce protection. It helped that Andrew Copp returned to the lineup after lacking simply two video games since struggling a damaged cheekbone within the April 9 sport in opposition to the Capitals, when he was high-sticked late within the third interval. Copp wore a full cage masks for defense.
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Straightforward offense
The Wings allowed the Habs simple offense early within the second interval. Rafael Harvey-Pinard was in a position to get in behind Detroit’s protection, took a go from Jake Evans and made it 3-1. Shayne Gostisbehere drew a penalty at 6:43 to ship the Wings on an influence play. Robby Fabbri had a golden likelihood from simply outdoors the fitting aim publish, however Montembeault was in a position to deny the shot. As an alternative, the deficit grew to a few objectives when one other breakdown left Gallagher on their lonesome within the slot, free to tee up a shot that beat Lyon at 15:26. It was the Wings’ flip to profit from some simple offense when David Perron fired in a puck from the left boards. Kane tipped it, and Compher completed the play to once more spur momentum.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Observe her @helenestjames.
Learn extra on the Detroit Red Wings and join our Red Wings newsletter. Her newest e-book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Pink Wings on the NHL Draft,” is out there from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Customized copies out there by way of her e-mail.
