While it was a relatively meaningless game for the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night, it never hurts to end the season on a high note. And that’s just what they did as they rode a very last minute tying goal (as in, Chris Tanev scored with 1.8 seconds left) into a 4-3 OT win over the Detroit Red Wings to close out their 2024-25 regular season.
It was a close contest, but the Leafs have trade deadline acquisition Scott Laughton to thank for the season-ending victory, as the 30-year-old tucked the puck into the bottom right corner just one minute into overtime.
Speaking after the game, Laughton joked about the vibe of a game at the end of the season that isn’t too important for the standings, but still matters to the team.
“It’s different, it’s different out there,” Laughton said. “You probably wouldn’t see me in the second shift of overtime, so that kind of explains it. It’s different but you score with a second left, and we found a way.”
Having been dealt to Toronto at this year’s trade deadline, it will be the Oakville, Ontario native’s first taste of playoff hockey in the GTA as a member of the Leafs. But as a hometown kid, it’s hardly his first taste of the playoffs in Toronto.
“Even the last couple years coming home pretty early after the season, you’re in it, you see the buzz,” said Laughton. “How much people care here, that’s what you want in a franchise, to go to battle for. Yeah, it’s an exciting time, I haven’t played playoff hockey in a while, this is big for me. I’m really excited.”
Laughton added that he was watching early 2000s Leafs playoff highlights Wednesday from the last Battle of Ontario in the postseason two decades ago, with guys like Darcy Tucker and Shayne Corson serving as inspiration. As a player, Laughton’s last taste of the postseason came in 2020, when he had five goals and nine points in 15 games played with the Flyers. He’ll now be looking to build off his OT winner to recapture some of that magic for the Leafs in their Cup run this season.
Speaking after Thursday night’s game, head coach Craig Berube added praise for Laughton, saying his recent improved play can be seen in more than just this one goal.
“I think, if we go back three games now, he’s really come around for us,” Berube said. “I thought in Buffalo he was excellent, but before that he was playing good hockey. Got some chemistry going with those guys, starting to feel a lot more comfortable. I was happy for him to get that goal in OT. You score a goal, you feel good about yourself but it’s not the goal so much, it’s how he’s playing the game.”
