GAME CENTRE

Maple Leafs rally nixed as Wings take it in OT

The game was supposed to be about William Nylander’s return.

An NHL season is filled with twists and turns and plot twists, but this Maple Leafs-Red Wings tilt had plenty of them all on its own.

It started with Nylander’s return, morphed into a troubling night for Garret Sparks, evolved into a spectacular come-frombehind third period for the Maple Leafs and ended on a Dylan Larkin breakaway goal for a 5-4 overtime win for Detroit.

Sparks was a bit of a surprise starter for the Leafs, with Frederik Andersen given a night off. The rest of the Leafs followed, playing a listless game, losing puck battles. At least until the third period, when they came out flying and got goals from John Tavares, Zach Hyman and Andreas Johnsson to force overtime.

The Leafs lost for the first time in six games, and lost for the first time this season when scoring the first goal (14-0-1) while Detroit showed that speed, a commitment to getting on the puck controller quickly and mudding up the neutral zone, is a recipe to defeat Toronto.

Best-laid plans: The Leafs scored first, with Kasperi Kapanen opening the scoring at 4:50. But within 90 seconds, Detroit was up 2-1, scoring on three shots. Jonathan Ericsson and Luke Glendening did the damage. The Wings were up 3-1 with Gustav Nyquist scoring with 14 seconds to go in the opening frame on a delayed penalty to Toronto. Mike Green scored from the point in the second.

Nylander watch: Nylander got a warm welcome back on his first shift. But it was not a pleasant evening for the line of Ny- lander, Auston Matthews and Patrick Marleau. They seemed out of sync, their timing off. Nylander especially. To be understood, since he hadn’t played a game — not even an exhibition game — in seven months. Matthews, meanwhile, took a hard hit from Niklas Kronwall in the second period. Kronwall was sent off for boarding. Matthews’ right shoulder seemed to take the brunt of the fall into the boards. Nylander played most of the third on the fourth line, with Tyler Ennis and Par Lindholm.

Battle royale: The two goalies — Jonathan Bernier for the Wings and Sparks —were a tandem in Toronto down the stretch when the Leafs tanked in 2015-16. Bernier, meanwhile, faced 31 shots. Leafs coach Mike Babcock did not explain why Sparks started. He usually only plays the second game of a back-to-back, and Andersen took part in the morning skate. It seemed like a Wings lineup depleted by injury and a suspension would be a good chance for Sparks to get some work.

Up next: The Maple Leafs head to Boston for a game Saturday.