Andrew Copp's late goal leads Detroit Red Wings over Maple Leafs 4-2
Andrew Copp scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:40 remaining in the third period and the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Sunday night.
Dylan Larkin had a goal and an assist, and Daniel Sprong and Lucas Raymond added the other goals for Detroit, which won for the fifth time in its last six games.
James Reimer made 28 saves.
Pontus Holmberg and Mitchell Marner scored for Toronto, who lost their third straight game. Marner recorded his 600th career point with the goal, becoming the faster player in team history to reach the milestone.
Ilya Samsonov stopped 20 shots in his first start since Dec. 29.
Samsonov was waived Dec. 31 and then joined the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. He was recalled by the Leafs on Wednesday, with rookie netminder Dennis Hildeby being loaned to the Marlies.
Samsonov was strong in a scoreless first period. The Red Wings outshot Toronto 10-7, including an early breakaway from J.T. Compher and multiple 2-on-1 chances that Samsonov stonewalled.
Holmberg opened the scoring 32 seconds into the second period, tipping in a Morgan Rielly point shot.
Larkin knotted the contest with 4:21 remaining in the middle frame. He took a pass from David Perron between multiple Leafs defenders and beat Samsonov glove side.
Marner restored Toronto's lead with 1:42 left in the second. He found a streaking Tyler Bertuzzi who pulled the defense's eyes his way and sent it back to Marner for an easy tap-in goal.
Sprong evened the score 2:46 into the third period, beating a sprawling Samsonov with a backhand.
Copp put the Red Wings ahead just moments after the crowd was chanting "Sammy" following a sprawling save on Alex DeBrincat by Samsonov.
Raymond netted an empty-netter with 18.9 seconds remaining.
UP NEXT
Red Wings: Visit Panthers on Wednesday.
Maple Leafs: Open a four-game road trip against the Oilers on Tuesday.
