The Toronto Maple Leafs were facing a 1-0 deficit entering the third period of the Centennial Classic thanks to Anthony Mantha’s goal early in the second period.
The Maple Leafs responded with four goals in the first 12 minutes of the third period.
It all started when Leo Komarov scored his sixth goal of the season just 1:23 into the third when he went to the front of the net and somehow managed to get his stick on the puck, even as he was being tied up by a defenseman, to redirect it into the back of the net.
It was all set up by a wonderful individual effort from defenseman Jake Gardiner.
They did not stop there.
Less than 10 minutes later rookie forward Mitch Marner scored his ninth goal of the season with a wonderful individual effort that saw him cut to the middle of the ice through the Red Wings’ defense and rip a shot past goaltender Jared Coreau.
Just one minute later Connor Brown scored his seventh of the season to increase the Maple Leafs’ to 3-1.
The offensive onslaught continued when the Maple Leafs’ other rookie sensation, No. 1 overall pick Auston Matthews, scored his 19th of the season on a 3-on-1 rush.