Four Reasons Red Wings Won Game They Should’ve Lost

The Toronto Maple Leafs outshot the Red Wings 40-15.  After the Maple Leafs scored two third period goals to tie, the Maple Leafs had all of the momentum. It felt as if the Red Wings were just holding on.

But the Red Wings left Toronto on Thanksgiving night with a 3-2 win to raise their season record to 2-1.

Here are reasons why the Red Wings were able to pull a rabbit out of a hat to win this game.

1. Cam Talbot brilliant in net

Talbot made big save after big save. He stopped eight shots by Auston Matthews. He faced 16 shots in the third period alone. In back-to-back wins against the Maple Leafs, he totaled 58 saves.

“After we got back from the Red and White game, he has played real solid,” coach Todd McLellan said. “He’s looked in practice. I think he’s fresh right now. Sometimes the more action for him the better. He looked big. He looked calm.”

2. Big goals from free agent signees

Free agent signee James van Riemsdyk was late arriving to training camp because of complications in the birth of his twins. He scored a key third period goal in his first game in a Red Wings jersey.

“I didn’t know he had those wheels left in him,” Talbot said.

JVR, WOW! 🤯

James van Riemsdyk nets his first as a member of the @DetroitRedWings! #NHLFaceOff

📺: @SportsOnPrimeCA ➡️ https://t.co/93veFI9jrZ pic.twitter.com/Yr8sJ6GJyh

— NHL (@NHL) October 13, 2025

The Red Wings didn’t sign Mason Appleton for his scoring prowess, but he netted the game-winner with less than a minute left in regulation.

3. Rookie Finnie earns primary assist on GWG

The former Western Hockey League standout now has two assists in three games. He also posted six hits against the Maple Leafs. The kids are playing fine.

You have to see Mason Appleton's tally with 45 seconds remaining that gave the @DetroitRedWings back-to-back wins over Toronto! 💪 #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/30f0eT3IJp

— NHL (@NHL) October 13, 2025

4. Veterans responding after McLellan called out team

He asked Detroit players when they were going to fix the problem? They clearly have stepped up in the last two games. Andrew Copp made a nice play on Van Riemsdyk’s goal. Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot were plus-two Even though the Maple Leafs were clearly the superior team, they kept battling. After Toronto tied the game, the Maple Leafs had the momentum to win it. But the Red Wings didn’t let it happen. It wasn’t a memorable win, but it was an impressive win.