Lucas Raymond scored with 25 seconds left in extra time after he a game-tying aim with 1:17 remaining in regulation, lifting the Detroit Pink Wings to a 5-4 comeback win over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night time that retains their playoff hopes alive.
“All tonight did is give us a possibility,” stated J.T. Compher, who scored two targets for Detroit to chop into deficits. “All this did was give us an opportunity to complete the job.”
The Pink Wings will make the playoffs in the event that they win at Montreal and Washington loses at Philadelphia on Tuesday night time.
Detroit coach Derek Lalonde stated his group has surpassed preseason expectations, placing it able to earn a spot within the playoffs on the ultimate sport of the common season.
“It is right here now,” he stated. “It will be a problem.”
Detroit drew iron on two photographs in extra time earlier than Raymond’s shot from the correct circle acquired previous Sam Montembeault, triggering a celebration with each teammate on the ice and screaming followers within the stands.
“I form of blacked out to be sincere,” Raymond stated.
Brendan Gallagher scored two targets and Montembeault stopped 30 photographs for the Canadiens, who scored two early targets and had been forward 4-1 late within the second interval.
Compher pulled the Pink Wings inside a aim halfway by the primary interval and scored once more to chop their deficit to 2 late within the second. Alex DeBrincat made it 4-3 halfway by the third.
“They acquired a pair targets, a pair octopuses on the ice and the constructing actually acquired going,” Gallagher stated. “They’re determined.”
Detroit made up for Alex Lyon giving up two targets on the primary three photographs he confronted, permitting two extra targets within the second interval and ending with 17 saves towards a group far faraway from playoff competition.
The Pink Wings had been in 25 straight postseasons, the third-longest run in NHL historical past, and the streak stopped in 2016 after they performed at Joe Louis Enviornment. Followers, determined to cheer for a playoff group once more, stuffed Little Caesars Enviornment for the ultimate regular-season sport at house.
Gallagher’s first aim was arrange by Lane Hutson, a 20-year-old defenseman from Holland, Michigan, in his NHL debut.
“Having all my household right here, it’s actually particular,” stated Hutson, a 2022 second-round choose.
Justin Barron adopted with a aim lower than two minutes later for the Canadiens.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard restored Montreal’s two-goal lead early within the second interval and Gallagher’s second aim made it 4-1 late within the interval.
“We did a fairly good job of silencing the gang for almost all of the sport,” Gallagher stated.
The Canadiens have missed the playoffs three straight occasions since shedding within the 2021 Stanley Cup closing and are aiming to keep away from a 3rd consecutive last-place end within the Metropolitan Division.
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The Pink Wings and Canadiens shut the common season on Tuesday night time in Montreal.