The Maple Leafs put a halt to their five-game losing slide, though the victory was far from convincing.
Toronto managed to squeak out a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Air Canada Centre to earn an important two points in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Although the home squad vaulted to a seemingly comfortable three-goal lead and held the Wings without a shot for the first 16:12 of the second period, the Leafs came precariously close to squandering yet another third period advantage.
“You don’t want to leave points on the table when you have the lead going into the third,” goaltender Frederik Andersen said.