The Detroit Red Wings keep proving their worth in tight games.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson scored 1:46 in overtime to give the Red Wings a 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.

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— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 29, 2025

Detroit is 7-2 in OT this season, and 13-2-3 in one-goal games.

Twice, Toronto took the lead, and twice Detroit tied it.

Following a scoreless first period, Toronto opened the scoring on a power play. Matthew Knies converted an Auston Matthews feed.

It stayed that way until the final minute of the second period. Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider snapped a high wrist shot past screened Toronto goalie Dennis Hildeby to make it 1-1. It was Seider’s seventh goal of the season and third goal in the past five games.

Nicolas Robertson restored Toronto’s lead in the third period when he drove a one-timer past Detroit goalie Cam Talbot. Mason Appleton made it 2-2 with his first goal since October 15.

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— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 29, 2025

Hildeby made 33 saves for the Maple Leafs. Talbot had 25 saves for the Red Wings.

Takeaways

Detroit winger Patrick Kane was back in the lineup following a six-game absence due to injury. He slotted on the second line alongside Andrew Copp and Alex DeBrincat. John Leonard, who’d been taking Kane’s place, dropped to the third line with Nate Danielson and Marco Kasper . . . Forward James van Riemsdyk missed his second game with an undisclosed injury. Against the Dallas Stars on December 23, van Riemsdyk left for a significant portion of the game after being hit in the leg with a Moritz Seider shot . . . Detroit forward Michael Rasmussen limped off the ice at the end of the second period, favoring his right leg, but returned for the third period.

Red Wings Key Moment

Appleton scored just 23 seconds after Toronto went ahead 2-1. He has scored four goals this season, and two have come against the Maple Leafs. Appleton netted the winner in a 3-2 Red Wings victory on October 13 at Toronto.

Red Wings Key Stat

The Red Wings are 3-0 against the Maple Leafs this season. It’s the first time since the 1995-96 campaign that Detroit has beaten Toronto three games in a row in the same season.

Up Next

The Red Wings will play host to the Winnipeg Jets in their traditional New Year’s Eve game. Puck drop for that contest is 6:30 pm ET.