Red Wings beat Canadiens in OT but miss the playoffs as Capitals win in Philadelphia

MONTREAL — The NHL playoffs will begin this weekend, but the Red Wings aren't going to be part of them.

But brother did they try.

Patrick Kane scored in the shootout, giving the Wings a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Still, it will be the eighth consecutive season without the playoffs for the Wings.

The Wings were eliminated because of Washington's victory over Philadelphia, which clinched the last playoff spot for the Capitals. Philadelphia, needing a regulation victory, pulled its goalie and Washington scored the clinching goal in a 2-1 victory into an empty net.

The Wings forced overtime in Montreal when David Perron, on a one-timer off a feed from Shayne Gostisbehere with 3.3 seconds left in regulation, scored, tying the game 4-4. But unlike Monday, the Wings couldn't complete the comeback.

The Wings last made the playoffs in 2016 in Jeff Blashill's first season as head coach and Dylan Larkin's rookie season.

Montreal's Juraj Slafkovsky broke a 3-3 tie at 12 minutes, 41 seconds giving the Canadiens a 4-3 lead.

Lane Hutson, from the west side of Michigan (Holland), in only his second game, lifted a shot from the point that Slafkovsky deflected past goaltender James Reimer for his 20th goal.

The Wings haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2016, making it eight consecutive years without a postseason appearance.

The Wings appeared to be drawing yet another third-period comeback.

Trailing 3-2, Daniel Sprong tied the game with a sharp angle goal (Sprong's 18th goal) at 3:31 of the third period, tying the game. Sprong shot from along the blue line and the puck trickled past goaltender Cayden Primeau.

Reimer stopped a partial breakaway on Nick Suzuki in the third period with the game tied and 14 minutes left in regulation time keeping the game tied.

But Slafkovsky's goal broke the tie and ultimately ended the Wings' season.

Moritz Seider and Joe Veleno had the other Wings goals.

Alex Newhook, Brendan Gallagher and Cole Caufield had Montreal's goals.

The Wings entered the final period trailing 3-2.

Gallagher gave Montreal a 2-1 lead early in the middle period.

Canadiens forward Joel Armia weaved his way into the zone and whistled a shot at Reimer that trickled past the goaltender and Gallagher — as he usually does, buzzing around the net — tapped the loose puck into the net for his 16th goal and third in the last two nights.

The goal appeared to ignite the Canadiens, who had dangerous chances throughout the period but Reimer was able to keep the puck out of the net.

At least until Caufield scored his 28th goal, at 10:09. Montreal's top line put together a dangerous shift and Slafkovsky, the 2023 first-overall draft pick, whistled a shot from the side that Reimer steered away, but Caufield was alone at the post to knock in the puck.

The Wings needed a quick goal, and as has been the case lately, they got it.

Veleno scored his 12th goal, at 10:45, cutting Montreal's lead to 3-2. Primeau made the stop on Gostisbehere's shot but the puck popped high into the air and landed near the hashmark. Primeau lost track o fthe puck and had no idea where it was, as Veleno quickly snapped a shot into a relatively open net.

The Wings had to kill consecutive penalties to end the second period, including an 11-second two-man advantage for Montreal, to close out the period.

The Wings came out of the first period tied 1-1, though outshooting Montreal, 12-8.

Montreal had a glorious scoring opportunity early in the period with Caufield and Suzuki swarming around the net, but a deflection by Suzuki went wide of the post.

The Canadiens converted shortly after, though. Newhook and Brendan Gallagher were sprung on a two-on-one rush and executed it to perfection, with Newhook slamming the puck in for his 15th goal at 11:32.

The Canadiens appeared to be gathering control and appeared to be escaping the opening 20 minutes with a lead.

But the Wings were again, as his been customary of late, the Wings scored a late goal and instantly were back in the game.

The Larkin line kept the Canadiens pinned in their zone, Montreal unable to to work the puck out. You had a feeling it was only a time before the Wings would convert, and sure enough it happened.

Seider got the puck on the point and whistled a shot that Primeau didn't appear to get a great look on, Seider's ninth goal (Larkin assisting), at 18:29.