In their first game since being officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Red Wings decided to drive the tank forward as they conceded their Saturday night showdown with the Leafs by a score of 4-3.

The game started pretty much how you’d expect one to go between one of the best teams in the league and one of the worst teams in the league. The Leafs played a better first period, out-shooting Detroit 15-11, and escaped with a 1-0 lead. The goal was scored by Kasperi Kapanen.

The second period was all Detroit. They out-shot the Leafs 19-8 and escaped the period with the lead. Dylan Larkin tied the game up early in the period when he used his speed to come streaking into the Leafs zone and fired a shot past Fredrik Andersen.

What a beautiful pass from Anthony Mantha. A few minutes later, Detroit added to their tally when Tyler Bertuzzi put his hand-eye coordination on full display when he scored on a beautiful deflection in front of the net.

Toronto wouldn’t just let Detroit have that period, though. They had to remind everyone that they liked to score. And, frankly, we are okay with it since it helps the tank. Connor Brown tied the game up with a deflection of his own later in the second.

In the third, the Wings showed a little more life when Frans Nielsen scored a strange one. His shot from the hashmarks knocked the goal cam off the net. The refs, initially, called the goal off because Justin Abdelkader skated behind Andersen, but after a coach’s challenge from Blashill corrected it to a goal to give the Wings the lead again.

The Wings winning is counter-tank, though, so they fixed that by letting the Leafs score two more. The first was by William Nylander off some nice passing by the Leafs dynamic forward group.

That was actually a really nice goal.

The go ahead goal was scored by Nazem Kadri off a beautiful saucer pass from Patrick Marleau.

That would do it as the Leafs closed this one out with a score of 4-3.

Detroit actually put on a good show tonight for Hockey Night in Canada. They were competitive right until the end, but the Leafs were just the more talented team.

Tonight’s Motor City MVP is Dylan Larkin because he scored a nice goal and I like him.

The Wings get a day off tomorrow before a very important lottery game against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is at 7:30 P.M. and you’ll be able to watch the game on Fox Sports Detroit.