Red Wings Win the Margins: Edvinsson Lifts Detroit Past Leafs in OT
There are regular-season games, and then there are Original Six games that feel like something more.
Sunday night in Hockeytown checked every box. Two historic franchises. A holiday crowd. A standings race where seven points separate first place from missing the playoffs. And a Red Wings team that badly needed to respond after a frustrating loss to Carolina the night before.
They did — and they did it the hard way.
The Detroit Red Wings knocked off the Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 in overtime at Little Caesars Arena, banking two points that may not feel enormous now, but absolutely will when April rolls around.
In an Eastern Conference defined by nightly chaos and razor-thin margins, games like this are how you stay in the hunt.
A Game Worth the Price of Admission
This was one of those games you circle on the calendar — and one you wish you could’ve been in the building for.
Two Original Six franchises battling through the holidays, with playoff-level urgency despite the calendar still reading December. Detroit played with purpose from the opening faceoff, and while Toronto sits last in the Atlantic Division, that label is misleading. The Leafs entered the night just nine points out of first place, a perfect snapshot of how compressed this conference really is.
Nothing is guaranteed. Being in first today doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t keep stacking points.
A Complete Effort — and a Necessary Bounce Back
Coming off a tough loss the night before, Detroit needed more than a “good showing.” They needed a response.
They got one.
The Wings controlled large stretches of play, stayed patient offensively, and didn’t unravel when Toronto struck first. And while the Maple Leafs have struggled mightily on the road — now 5-10-1 away from home, on pace for their second-worst road record in three decades — they still have more than enough skill to punish mistakes.
Detroit didn’t give them many.
Seider Sets the Tone (Again)
If there’s one constant this season, it’s Moritz Seider.
Seider tied the game late in the second period with a perfectly placed shot over the goalie’s right shoulder, aided by a flawless screen in front. It was another example of how his offensive game continues to catch up to the rest of his elite toolkit.
At this point, it’s not a stretch to say Seider has been Detroit’s MVP through the first half of the season. He’s reliable, physical, poised — and increasingly dangerous with the puck. That combination is a nightmare for opposing teams.
The Bounce, the Bar, and the Break
Detroit has been outstanding in overtime this season, improving to 5–1 with the win. That speaks to composure and confidence — but it also underscores something else that defines this conference.
Luck still matters.
Just moments before the winner, Auston Matthews rang a shot off the crossbar behind Cam Talbot. The puck stayed out, Detroit went the other way, and the game ended.
Those are the margins. Inches. Bounces. One shift.
Edvinsson’s Moment — and Why It Mattered
Overtime belonged to Simon Edvinsson.
Edvinsson finished the job 1:46 into OT, driving the puck and beating the goalie clean to send LCA into a roar. What made the moment even more impressive was the context — Edvinsson had left the game earlier after blocking a heavy slap shot from the top of the circle that caught him behind the knee.
He came back. And he delivered.
That’s the kind of moment that sticks with a team.
Seider and Edvinsson: As Good as Any Pair in the League
At this point, it’s fair to say it out loud: Seider and Edvinsson are playing as well as any defensive pairing in the NHL right now.
They complement each other perfectly — size, skating, physicality, poise. One sets the tone, the other extends it. When they’re on the ice, Detroit looks calm, confident, and in control.
That pairing is a major reason the Wings are where they are in the standings.
Showtime and Appleton Show Up in Different Ways
Another welcome sight was Patrick Kane back in the lineup.
Kane didn’t hit the scoresheet, but his impact was felt throughout the night. Clean zone entries, smart puck movement, and the kind of gravity that pulls defenders out of position — the subtle stuff that doesn’t always show up in the box score but absolutely changes how a game unfolds. Having him healthy again adds another layer to an offense that doesn’t need to be perfect, just timely.
It was also good to see Mason Appleton show up where it does count on the scoresheet. Appleton’s third-period goal didn’t just tie the game — it snapped a 26-game goal drought, a reminder that while his value often lives in forechecking and detail work, production still matters. Getting him back in the scoring column strengthens Detroit’s depth, and on a night defined by contributions up and down the lineup, that goal loomed large.
Why This Win Matters
Detroit remains in first place, but the real takeaway isn’t position — it’s awareness.
The Eastern Conference is loaded with parity. Seven points separate comfort from chaos. Toronto may be buried in the standings today, but they’re one good stretch from relevance again.
That’s why wins like this matter. Why overtime points matter. Why bouncing back after a loss matters.
This was a complete effort. Not flawless — but composed, resilient, and opportunistic.
Exactly what this season demands.
Stat Capsule 🏒
Final: Red Wings 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT)
Scoring
- TOR: Knies (PP), Robertson
- DET: Seider, Appleton, Edvinsson (OT)
Game Leaders
- Simon Edvinsson: OT GWG
- Moritz Seider: Goal, +3
- Mason Appleton: Goal
- Cam Talbot: 25 saves (.926 SV%)
Team Notes
- Shots: DET 36, TOR 27
- Hits: DET 12, TOR 23
- Power Play: TOR 1/2, DET 0/1
- OT Record: DET improves to 5–1
With another strong performance, are Seider and Edvinsson already playing at a championship-pairing level? Drop a comment below or join the conversation in the Red Wings Wheelhouse — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
