NHL: Rookie Matthews Lifts Leafs To Outdoor Win Over Wings

MONTREAL, Jan 2, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 02nd Jan, 2017 ) - Toronto rookie Auston Matthews applied the dramatic ending with a goal 3:40 into overtime as the Maple Leafs edged the Detroit 5-4 in a NHL outdoor game Sunday.

The 19-year-old American lifted a loose puck from the side of the net over Detroit goaltender Jared Coreau to cap a thrilling extra session and lift the Leafs to their fifth consecutive victory.

"It was just sitting there and I tried to get it up in the air on the goalie as much as I could," Matthews said. The inaugural Centennial Classic in Toronto launched a year of 100th anniversary NHL celebrations.

The Leafs won despite squandering a three-goal lead over the Red Wings halfway through the third period in front of a crowd of 40,100 at Exhibition Place Stadium, site of last year's Major League Soccer and Canadian Football League finals.

The Red Wings scored twice in the final 74 seconds with their goaltender removed for an extra attacker, the last goal coming with only 1.1 seconds remaining as Canadian Anthony Mantha netted his second of the game to force overtime.

"We tried to stay level headed," Matthews said. "We had a couple of bad breaks, but we didn't give up. "Not many people get this experience. To see this in Toronto is pretty special." Matthews' game-winner was his second goal of the contest and 20th of the season. The Arizona native has had little trouble making the transition from developmental leagues to the NHL.