MONTREAL (AP) – The Detroit Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention again Tuesday night, but it couldn't have come in more heartbreaking fashion.
In Detroit's 5-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens in the final game of the regular season, Patrick Kane scored the winning shootout goal and David Perron scored a dramatic game-tying goal with 3.3 seconds left in regulation to turn the game around. fulfilled.
But it didn't matter.
The Red Wings entered the night tied with Washington for the second wild-card spot in the East with 89 points, but the Capitals won the tiebreaker with Detroit in regulation wins.
Meanwhile, Washington was visiting Philadelphia, and the 87-point Flyers needed a regulation win and a regulation loss in Detroit to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Shortly after the Red Wings celebrated Perron's heroic game-tying goal, the Flyers failed to realize that Detroit had forced overtime and effectively ended their season, forcing their goalie with three minutes left in a 1-1 tie with Washington. He aimed for victory by pulling out the following. Under regulation.
However, TJ Oshie quickly scored a goal into an empty net. Gives Capitals a 2-1 leadand Washington finally booked its ticket to the postseason.
“You can't even make up for it with that development,'' Red Wings manager Derek Lalonde said.
Daniel Sprong had a goal and an assist, and Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno and David Perron also scored for Detroit (41-32-9). James Reimer stopped 29 shots for Detroit.
Red Wings won Dramatic 5-4 overtime victory They beat the Canadiens on home ice the day before.
And despite another surprising comeback on Tuesday, Detroit will miss the playoffs for the eighth straight season.
“We're not going to just walk away and we're not going to die. Comeback after comeback,” Dylan Larkin said, adding that the Red Wings learned before the shootout that they would be packing up for the offseason.
“I think it's heartbreaking to hear what it was like at that time. Our group was very resilient and got back in the game, and you know, it's very disappointing.”
Brendan Gallagher and July Slavkowski had goals and assists, and Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield also scored for Montreal (30-36-16). Kayden Primeau made 36 saves.
Canadiens fans got their first glimpse of an up-and-coming blueliner in the organization. Logan Mailloux made his NHL debut after spending the entire season with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League. The 21-year-old had one assist and earned his first NHL point.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Lane Hutson, playing at the Bell Center for the first time, showed off his moves, received a big ovation, and recorded a crucial assist. He made his debut Monday in Detroit and recorded one assist.
“The crowd was great…I feel like it fed off of me,” Hutson said. “It's really cool. I mean, they're smart fans. They know when plays are going to happen and they can hear everything about the game, so it's really special.”
Trailing 3-2 after 40 minutes, the Red Wings tied the game at 3:31 into the third period when a shot from behind the goal bounced off Primeau's pad and into the net.
Slavkowski put Montreal back in the lead with his 20th of the season, deflecting Hutson's point shot at 12:46.
With Detroit's season in jeopardy and without a goaltender, Perron scored the game-tying goal on a one-timer from an offensive zone draw after a questionable icing call with seven seconds left against Montreal.
It kept the Red Wings' season alive for just a moment.
“It's crazy. It's obviously very stinging,” Perron said. “You go to look at the clock, you have seven seconds, and then you score a goal and go back to the bench, and it doesn't take that long to hear it (the loss).
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