The Red Wings are on top of the Maple Leafs in OT; Auston Matthews scored his 69th goal of the season

TORONTO — Auston Matthews is approaching a milestone he hasn't touched in more than 30 years.

Dylan Larkin and his teammates are fine with that – they've earned two invaluable points in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Red Wings captain scored a power-play goal 41 seconds into overtime on Saturday as Detroit beat Toronto 5-4, but Matthews scored his 69th goal of the season.

The Maple Leafs sharpshooter scored in the second period to erase a 4-1 deficit for the hosts. Every time Matthews touched the puck, anticipation rose throughout Scotiabank Arena.

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

Mathieu, who has scored 10 times in his last eight games, is looking to match Mario Lemieux's 1995-96 total of 69, and become the first player to score 70 goals in a single campaign since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilius combined for 76 in 1992. 93.

Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said Matthews was caught moments after scoring the Leafs' third goal and sitting just shy of 70.

“It's a big concern,” he said. “It doesn't help us with what we want to accomplish on the ice.

“But it's interesting. I got it”.

Alex DeBrincat, two, David Perron, a goal and an assist, and Simon Edwinsson provided the rest of the offense for Detroit (39-32-9). James Reimer made 32 saves in his 500th game. Patrick Kane and J.T. Komfer had two assists.

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

Larkin, who also had an assist, deflected Kane's shot past Max Domi in overtime.

“One of the biggest of my career,” Larkin said after his 33rd goal of 2023-24. “You can't feel better.”

Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists, and John Tavares and Nick Robertson scored for Toronto (46-24-10). Ilya Samsonov stopped 28 shots. Morgan Rielly had two assists.

Detroit is tied with Washington for the second wild card spot in the East, but with two games remaining, the Capitals hold the tiebreaker. Saturday's loss dropped the Leafs to No. 3 in the Atlantic Division with two road games remaining on their schedule.

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 set the stage for Matthews, who hit the crossbar for the first time, with shot No. 69 past Reimer and hitting the air inside the deaf rink at 10:23.

“The players decided it was important — that's it,” Keefe said of what changed for his team at halftime. “When it's time to play, we'll show why we're capable.”

Matthews got his 70th moment after the break, but Reimer closed down the field.

The Leafs climbed out of a three-goal hole in just over eight minutes when Tavares scored his 26th goal at 17:22.

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.”

Marner opened the scoring with his 26th of the game on the power play at 8:35 of the first.

Detroit tied it at 1:27, DeBrincat scored his 25th goal and the Wings took the lead at 13:39 when Edwinsson added the first.

DeBrincat made it 3-1 at 17:37, then Perron put the visitors up three with less than 20 seconds remaining when he put one past Samsonov for the 16th.

The Toronto netminder's teammates pushed back from there, with many trying to rip Matthews' stick and hit Detroit's No. 70 goal.

But that would not be the case tonight.

“Especially when it gets to 69, you can see it growing, waiting,” Keefe said of the temperature in the building. “Now you're feeding him — I'm feeding him. I want it to happen, I want it for the fans.

“I'm glad the game is over.”

LILY IS BACK

Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren (upper body injury) sat out for the first time since March 26. Toronto winger Bobby McMann (lower body) was injured in the first period and did not return. Leafs blueliner Jake McCabe took a puck to the face in the second game and didn't return, but Keefe said he should be fine.

NEXT UP

Detroit: Host the Canadiens to close out the regular season on Tuesday before traveling to Montreal on Monday.

Toronto: Visits the Florida Panthers on Tuesday before visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.