John Tavares scored with 5:33 left to complete a Toronto comeback as the Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in NHL Global Series Sweden on Friday in Stockholm.
William Nylander, one of five Swedes on the Leafs’ roster, had the tying goal and assisted on two others as Toronto erased a 2-0 deficit in the third period. Ex-Red Wing Tyler Bertuzzi had the other Toronto goal.
Tavares’ game-winner was set up by Bertuzzi. He won a puck battle behind the Wings’ net and backhanded a pass to Tavares. Nylander had the other assist.
Daniel Sprong scored on a penalty for Detroit. Lucas Raymond, the only Swede on the Wings roster, had the other goal.
Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves for Toronto. Alex Lyon, in his first start of the season, stopped 26 shots for Detroit.
Detroit defenseman Jake Walman crashed into the Wings net midway through the second period and did not return.
The Wings had a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal during the scoreless first period. They went 0-for-2 on the power play and killed a penalty.
Sprong’s penalty shot ended the scoreless deadlock with 7:08 left in the second period. The penalty kick was called when Toronto’s Morgan Rielly intentionally put his glove on the puck in the Leafs’ goal crease. Sprong went around a sprawling Samsonov and put the puck into the net.
Less than two minutes later, Raymond whistled a shot from the left circle past Samsonov’s glove. Ben Chiarot and Alex DeBrincat picked up the assist.
Toronto broke through with 16:10 left in regulation. Nylander drove in from near the blue line and flipped a pass to Bertuzzi, who tapped the puck in near the crease. Tavares picked up the secondary assist.
David Kampf almost equalized moments later when his shot hit the crossbar.
With Detroit’s Moritz Seider in the penalty box for tripping, Nylander scored from the spot with 6:57 left, lifting a shot over Lyon’s right shoulder. Mitch Marner and Tavares grabbed the assist.
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