Maple Leafs 3, Red Wings 2 (SO)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Left winger Joffrey Lupul and center Tyler Bozak scored in the shootout to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday afternoon at Michigan Stadium in the 2014 Winter Classic.
The game was expected to break a hockey attendance record of 104,173, which was also set at Michigan Stadium on Dec. 11, 2010, at the Big Chill at the Big House college game between Michigan and Michigan State. There were 105,491 tickets sold.
The game was played in a steady snowfall and the temperature was a little more than 10 degrees with a below-zero wind chill. Both goalies had to regularly have their water bottles replaced because the water was freezing. Because of the snow, the ice had to be shoveled during breaks more than usual.
Left winger James Van Riemsdyk and Bozak also scored for Toronto (21-16-5) in the first 60 minutes. Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier stopped 41 shots.
Right winger Daniel Alfredsson and left winger Justin Abdelkader had the goals in regulation for Detroit (18-14-10) and center Pavel Datsyuk scored in the shootout. Defenseman Brendan Smith had two assists and goaltender Jimmy Howard made 24 saves.
The teams changed ends midway through the third period and the overtime to keep neither from getting the the wind advantage for the entire period.
Toronto defenseman Cody Franson and Detroit center and captain Henrik Zetterberg hit the goal post in the last 30 seconds of the overtime.
Abdelkader tied it at 2 with 5:32 left in regulation by tipping in a pass from Smith. It was Abdelkader's fifth goal of the season.
Bozak's fifth goal of the season gave the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead 4:41 into the third period. He tipped defenseman Dion Phaneuf's shot out of the air. The play was reviewed to determine whether Bozak's stick was too high.
Van Riemsdyk tied the score at 1 with 36 seconds left in the second period. He batted a loose puck out of midair past Howard for van Riemsdyk's 15th goal of the season.
Alfredsson produced the first goal of the game with 6:46 left in the second period. Zetterberg's pass went in off Alfredsson's skate or ankle on a 2-on-1 rush. It was Alfredsson's 11th goal of the season.
NOTES: Toronto traded D John-Michael Liles to Carolina for D Tim Gleason after the start of the game. Liles had taken the pregame skate with the Maple Leafs. ... It was Detroit rookie C Luke Glendening's fifth outdoor game. He participated in three while at Michigan. He had been up with the Red Wings but was sent down to Grand Rapids of the AHL in time to play in Grand Rapids' outdoor game at Comerica Park against the Toronto Marlies on Monday. He was then recalled by Detroit on Tuesday. ... Toronto D and captain Dion Phaneuf signed a seven-year, $49 million contract extension. ... Red Wings RW Daniel Alfredsson returned after missing a game with an upper-body injury. ... Detroit C Darren Helm sat out the game with a sore groin. He's day to day. ... Toronto RW Phil Kessel and LW James van Riemsdyk and Detroit G Jimmy Howard were named to the U.S. Olympic team.
