Music: {allcanada} Red Wings top Maple Leafs in Winter Classic preview

Saturday, December 21, 2013

{allcanada} Red Wings top Maple Leafs in Winter Classic preview

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TORONTO -- Daniel Alfredsson and Pavel Datsyuk scored in the shootout, and the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 at Air Canada Centre on Saturday night in a preview of the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

Alfredsson and Datsyuk beat Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier, and the Maple Leafs didn't score against Red Wings goalie Jonas Gustavsson to clinch the win in two rounds.

It was the Red Wings' first in a shootout this season; they were 0-6.

Detroit and Toronto meet next on Jan. 1, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor at the Winter Classic.

David Clarkson gave the Maple Leafs a 4-3 lead at 8:32 of the third period when he put a loose puck in the crease past Gustavsson. The scramble at the front of the net happened when Jay McClement's shot bounced off the goalie and loose in front of the net. Clarkson pushed the puck underneath Gustavsson for his third goal of the season and 100th in his career.

Detroit's Tomas Tatar tied the game 4-4 with 6:16 remaining in the third when he put a rebound of a Niklas Kronwall shot past Bernier. Tatar beat Maple Leafs defenseman John-Michael Liles to the loose puck in front to score his seventh goal of the season.

The Maple Leafs scored first at 7:15 of the first period. Defenseman Cody Franson intercepted the puck at the point and sent a wrist shot past Gustavsson for his second goal of the year.

Datsyuk made it 1-1 at 8:57. His 14th goal of the season came off a pass from behind the net by forward Riley Sheahan. Datsyuk backhanded the puck between goalie James Reimer's legs to tie the game. Defenseman Danny DeKeyser, who missed the past 15 games with a separated shoulder, had an assist on Datsyuk's goal.

Forward Joakim Andersson gave Detroit a 2-1 lead at 13:18. Andersson's sixth goal of the season came on a wraparound, using his reach to put the puck past Reimer on the far side.

Tomas Jurco's second goal of the season at 18:08 gave the Red Wings a 3-1 lead. Jurco was alone in front when Sheahan found him with a pass, and Jurco slipped a spinning backhand between Reimer's pads.

Bernier replaced Reimer in goal for the Maple Leafs at the start of the second period. Reimer finished with nine saves.

Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf cut the Red Wings' lead to 3-2 at 11:45 of the second period when his one-timer above the faceoff circle beat Gustavsson. Joffrey Lupul found Phaneuf open for his third goal of the season.

Phaneuf nearly had a second goal at 15:13 when he had a wide open net to shoot at, but Gustavsson scrambled back and made a highlight-reel save with the paddle of his goal stick.

Lupul's 11th goal of the season tied the game 3-3 at 18:24 on the power play. He took a pass from Phil Kessel along the goal line and put his shot over Gustavsson's shoulder on the short side.

Gustavsson made 19 saves; Bernier stopped 25 shots in relief of Reimer.

The Red Wings will host the New York Islanders on Monday; the Maple Leafs go on the road to face the New York Rangers.

Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan