Playoff-bound Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings 4-3 in OT in regular-season finale

TORONTO (AP) — Scott Laughton scored 56 seconds into overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Thursday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Auston Matthews, Philippe Myers and Chris Tanev — with 1.8 seconds left in regulation —also scored for Toronto (52-26-4). Joseph Woll stopped 30 shots, and Mitch Marner had two assists.

The Maple Leafs won the Atlantic Division and will host the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 on Sunday.

Justin Holl had a goal and an assist against his former team and Austin Watson and Alex DeBrincat also scored for Detroit (39-35-8). Cam Talbot made 16 saves.

Red Wings: The Red Wings missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. Only the Buffalo Sabres, at 14, have a longer playoff drought.

Maple Leafs: Coach Craig Berube said following the morning skate he expects injured defensemen Jake McCabe (undisclosed) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (undisclosed) and center David Kampf (upper-body), to be available for Game 1 against Ottawa.

Tanev scored his third goal of the season with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to tie it after Toronto trailed 3-1 entering the third period.

The Maple Leafs won a division title for just the third time in the league’s post-1967 expansion era, and the first time in a full season since 1999-00.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period of their NHL hockey game Thursday, April 17, 2025 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Domi, left, battles with Detroit Red Wings' Dylan Larkin, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Detroit Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot (39) makes a stop on a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg (29) fights for the puck against Detroit Red Wings' Lucas Raymond (23) during the first period of their NHL hockey game Thursday, April 17, 2025 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg (29) fights for possession of the puck against Detroit Red Wings' Michael Rasmussen (27) during the first period of their NHL hockey game Thursday, April 17, 2025 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) moves the puck between Detroit Red Wings' Austin Watson (24) and Tyler Motte (14) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Shelby Miller never developed into the ace the Arizona Diamondbacks envisioned following a blockbuster trade in December 2015.

Perhaps he can become the Diamondbacks' closer almost a decade later.

Miller earned his first save for Arizona on Thursday, working a perfect ninth inning to finish a 4-2 win over the New York Mets.

“It’s always good to get a win, however we can do it, however I contribute, whether we’re up one or 10,” Miller said. “I’ll pick up the ball whenever my name is called.”

Miller picked up the save hours after Arizona's bullpen was thrown into further disarray when Justin Martinez was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Martinez and A.J. Puk, who was shifted to the 60-day IL as he recovers from a left elbow injury, combined for seven of the Diamondbacks’ first nine saves.

“It doesn’t mean he’s going to close every game,” manager Torey Lovullo said after Miller threw just eight pitches. “But he’s going to get some save opportunities for sure.”

Miller was one of the most promising young starters in baseball when the Diamondbacks acquired him from the Atlanta Braves on Dec. 9, 2015, for a package that included Dansby Swanson, the first overall pick in the 2015 draft.

But Miller, who had a 3.22 ERA for the Braves and St. Louis Cardinals in his first four big league seasons, went 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA in 20 starts in 2016 before undergoing Tommy John surgery after four starts in 2017 — Lovullo’s first year as manager.

“That makes the save a little bit better,” Miller said with a smile. “I couldn’t be more happy for him to get this W."

“The fact that we’re connected that way, it does mean a lot,” Lovullo said.

Miller played for three other teams and had moved to the bullpen by the time Swanson won the World Series with Atlanta in 2021. After pitching briefly for the San Francisco Giants in 2022 and recording a 1.71 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, Miller appeared in a career-high 51 games for the Detroit Tigers last season.

The 34-year-old right-hander signed a non-roster deal with Arizona in February and is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 13 appearances this season. The save Thursday was the fourth of his career.

“It’s a story of perseverance. For me, it’s a story about a guy that just is never giving up,” Lovullo said. “He’s bounced around over the course of his career through a bunch of organizations, but he has never given up. And we’re getting those benefits now.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Shelby Miller, left, throws to first base as New York Mets' Jeff McNeil beats the throw for a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, right, celebrates with pitcher Shelby Miller, left, after a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)