Red Wings blow lead but dump Habs in OT, 5-4

Field Level Media|published: Sat 2nd December, 22:14 2023

Dec 2, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Jesse Ylonen (56) misses his shot against Detroit Red Wings goalie Ville Husso (35) during the first period at Bell Centre. credits: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Walman scored 54 seconds into overtime and Alex DeBrincat recorded his 200th career goal as the visiting Detroit Red Wings overcame blowing a two-goal, third-period lead for Saturday night's 5-4 win against the Montreal Canadiens.

Daniel Sprong had a goal with an assist, while Joe Veleno and Christian Fischer also scored for Detroit, which has totaled 25 goals while winning five of six. However, the Red Wings blew a 4-2 third-period edge, only to have Walman's slapper save them in the extra session.

Montreal, which trailed 3-0 in the first period, got within a goal when Nick Suzuki scored the club's first power-play goal since Nov. 12 at 4:12 into the final period. They tied it at 4-4 with 3:59 remaining in regulation when Gustav Lindstrom's wrister amid some net-front traffic got by Detroit's Ville Husso (26 saves).

The Canadiens, though, have dropped five straight at home.

Detroit opened the scoring 7:21 into the game. On a delayed penalty, Lucas Raymond's shot deflected off a Canadiens' skate and over to the wide-open Veleno, who buried the puck by an out-of-position Jake Allen (28 saves).

The Red Wings made it 2-0 a little more than four minutes later, this time while short-handed. Michael Rasmussen took advantage of a Montreal turnover in the neutral zone, broke in and had his driving shot stopped by Allen, but the puck was there for a trailing Fischer to put in.

Detroit added a third goal with 39.4 seconds remaining in the opening period, on a two-on-one when Sprong kept the puck.

However, Montreal got a much-needed answer with 6.1 seconds left in the first, as Justin Barron drove home the puck from Suzuki's shot that deflected off Red Wing and Ex-Canadien Jeff Petry.

Montreal then recorded a short-handed goal of its own at 4:07 into the second. After Raymond toe-picked on the Detroit power play, the puck ended up with Armia, who off a two-on-one, sent a drive by Husso to make it 3-2.

However, the Red Wings answered just 47 seconds later via DeBrincat's milestone goal, off a one-timer from near the side of the net.

—Field Level Media