Dylan Larkin scored a power play goal in OT to lead the Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Maple Leafs.

TORONTO —

Dylan Larkin scored on the power play 41 seconds into overtime and the Detroit Red Wings got Auston Matthews' 69th goal of the season to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 on Saturday night.

Alex DeBrincat scored twice, David Perron had a goal and an assist, Simon Edvinsson also scored and J.T. Compher had two assists for Detroit, which led 4-1 after one period.

In overtime, Larkin deflected Patrick Kane's shot past Toronto goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov past Max Domi. It was his 33rd goal of the season.

“One of the biggest things of my career,” Larkin said. “You can't feel better.”

James Reimer stopped 32 shots against his former team in his 500th NHL game.

“It's special,” said Reimer, who was drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2006 and spent six seasons in Toronto. “So proud of the guys.”

Detroit is in a three-way tie with Washington and Philadelphia for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings and Capitals have two games left and the Flyers have one. Washington holds the tiebreaker and is now in the playoffs.

Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists, John Tavares and Nick Robertson also scored and Morgan Rielly had two assists for Toronto. Samsonov finished with 28 saves.

Matthews, who has scored 10 times in his last eight games, is one place away from becoming the first player in more than 30 years to score 70 goals in a season. He matched Mario Lemieux's total of 69 in the 1995-96 season.”

“My approach is the same every game, every night,” Matthews said. “I try not to think too much.”

Toronto's loss dropped the Maple Leafs to No. 3 in the Atlantic Division with two road games remaining on their schedule.

Samsonov, who was nearly pulled after the first, stopped Lucas Raymond with nine minutes left in regulation and made another big stop before OT with Domi in the box.

“I felt like our team was going to be better,” Keefe said. “I thought Sammy had to be a part of it. I'm glad it turned out that way because it was great.”

Matthews had a few more opportunities on the power play later in the evening, and the crowd's anticipation grew every time Matthews touched the puck, looking for No. 70 at 4-4.

Down 4-1 after 20 minutes, Robertson scored his 14th goal at 9:04 of the second, and Kane received a double-minor for sticking up.

That left room for Matthews, who hit the first post and fired a No. 69 shot past Reimer at 10:23 p.m. inside a deafening Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said Matthews was caught moments after the goal.

“It's a big concern,” he said. “What we're trying to accomplish on the ice doesn't help us… But it's fun. I understand.

“Especially when he's 69, you can see him growing, waiting. Now you are feeding him — I am feeding him. I wanted it to happen, I wanted it for the fans. … I'm glad the game is over.”

Mergen almost got his 70th moment after the break, but Reimer closed his mat at the last second.

The Maple Leafs had 2:38 left when Tavares finished with his 26th game as Toronto erased a three-goal deficit in just over eight minutes against Reimer, who was drafted out of Toronto in 2006 and has been with the Maple Leafs since 2010. -16.

Marner opened the scoring for the first time on the power play at 8:35 as he buried his 26th of the season. William Nylander had a key assist to snap an eight-game drought.

Detroit tied it 2-on-1 at 1:27 when DeBrincat scored his 25th goal.

The Red Wings took the lead with 6:21 left in the period when Edvinsson Perron made his first drive.

At 17:37, DeBrincat made it 3-1, and then Samsonov hit a big shot off the wing stick for his second of the night.

Perron then scored a 16th try for Detroit with less than 20 seconds left, past Samsonov at the near post.

NEXT UP

Red Wings: Host Montreal Monday night in home regular season finale.

Maple Leafs: At Florida on Tuesday night to open a two-game road trip that ends the season.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl