DETROIT — The Red Wings keep surviving and staying in this playoff race in dramatic and remarkable fashion.

Lucas Raymond scored the overtime winner with 24.4 seconds left, after scoring the game-tying goal late in regulation time, giving the Wings an exciting 5-4 victory over Montreal.

Raymond came down with Dylan Larkin on a two-on-break and blasted the game-winner, his 31st goal, past goaltender Sam Montembeault.

But the Wings still need help in the playoff race.

Washington won its game, to stay in the final wild-card spot with 89 points. The Capitals own the tiebreaker against the Wings, who also have 89 points.

The Wings finish the season Tuesday in Montreal.

Raymond tied the game 4-4 at 18 minutes, 43 seconds of the third period, after the Wing had pulled goaltender Alex Lyon. Raymond got close to the side and whistled a shot past Montembeault for Raymond's 30th goal.

Alex DeBrincat cut Montreal's lead to 4-3 at 10:38 of the third period with his 27th goal and third in the last two games. DeBrincat blasted a one-timer that got through a small maze of bodies in front of Montembeault.

The Wings were leery of the Canadiens after Monday's morning skate. Montreal has had some impressive wins against playoff teams over the past several weeks and made life difficult for contenders and they did again Monday.

"I've been on some teams like that in the past, where obviously there's nothing really to play for," defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "But there's always something to play for in the NHL. Guys are playing for jobs. and for us, we're going to (have to) play playoff-like hockey."

...continued

©2024 www.detroitnews.com. Visit at detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.