When theSt Louis Blues dropped 2 principals with injuries, Toronto Maple Leafs’ followers had to see the creating on the wall surface. It was going to be a hard video game to win. That appears to take place commonly in the NHL. The undermanned group commonly rises to defeated the following group they play.
That’s precisely what occurred in Toronto last evening. Two Blues’ celebrities were out– ahead Vladimir Tarasenko (with a hand injury) and also captain Ryan O’Reilly (with a damaged foot)– on hurt book.St Louis rose, played a strong very first duration, and also held on to press the video game to overtime and afterwards the shootout.
The Blues’ win pressed their document to 18-17-3. The Maple Leafs’ document dropped to 23-8-7. The Maple Leafs, after an actually solid video game in Colorado versus the Avalanche, laid a jalopy.
Takeaway One: The Maple Leafs Could Not Take the Lead
The Blues maintained taking the lead, while the Maple Leafs maintained returning. But probably it was as high as the Maple Leafs shedding the lead as opposed to the Blues taking it. Toronto maintained quiting the lead. It had not been the group’s ideal video game.
Last evening’s video game was the Maple Leafs’ very first shootout last this period. The Maple Leafs have actually been terrible in overtime and also the shootout durations. For a group this excellent, they ought to have a far better document in the added durations.
Maple Leafs’ head trainer Sheldon Keefe stated after the video game that it had not been his goalkeeper’s mistake (since his interplay the method it did). However, it’s tough to state if he truly indicated that. Goalie Ilya Samsonov might have been much better throughout the video game. All around? Not so excellent. Lucky to obtain a solitary factor for the shootout loss.
Takeaway Two: Micheal Bunting Keeps Scoring
Michael Bunting racked up two times, consisting of on a power play, for theMaple Leafs It was the 2nd video game in a row that Bunting had actually racked up 2 objectives. It was likewise the 6th two-goal video game of his job. With his aid, he had a three-point evening. He’s on a roll.
Interestingly, there has actually been a great deal of information regarding the Maple Leafs and also Bunting’s “side” speaking about following period’s agreement. The word is that the Maple Leafs and also Bunting have “touched base” so as to begin discussions. No one can state that Bunting does not have a feeling of timing. Each objective he ratings– and also he’s currently up to 13 on the period– is most likely an additional buck or more on his following agreement.
Bunting currently has 13 objectives and also 16 helps (for 29 factors) in 38 video games. Wouldn’ t it be intriguing if he were to struck a point-a-game rate?
Related: Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews: Scoring Less on Purpose?
Takeaway Three: Auston Matthews Gets Two Points to Break 500-Point Barrier
Auston Matthews included an objective and also a help on William Nylander’s objective, completing the video game with 501 job factors. What was so intriguing regarding Matthews’ aid is that he really did not in fact touch the puck– at the very least not on function. Ironically, the puck jumped off his skate to Bunting that obtained it to Nylander for the objective.
I state paradoxically because, in Colorado, among the Avalanche objectives was a relatively safe pass that jumped off Matthews’ skate and also previous Matt Murray for an objective. What walks around occurs in hockey, it appears.
With his 2 factors, Matthews ended up being the fastest gamer in Maple Leafs’ franchise business background to struck the 500-point landmark. It took him 445 video games. Darryl Sittler did it in 517 video games.
Related: 9 Things You Might Not Know About Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews
Takeaway Four: The Maple Leafs Bottom Six Players Great Hockey
The Maple Leafs’ 4th line currently includes Pontus Holmberg, Dryden Hunt, and also Zach Aston-Reese It is an actually excellent line last evening and also had fun with some physicality last evening. Hunt had an opportunity to win the video game however could not. The line really did not strike the scoresheet, however they had fun with resolution and also sturdiness.
Hunt has some dimension and also is a physical pressure in means Denis Malgin never ever might be. He was likewise excellent with the puck. Holmberg’s has actually benefited a while, as has Aston-Reese
In reality, the whole lower 6 was truly excellent. The 3rd line produced violation. Engvall racked up an objective, while Kampf and also Kerfoot each had a help. Engvall has actually been strong for some time.
Related: MAPLE LEAFS LAST 2 PERIODS: DEJA VU, THROUGHOUT ONCE AGAIN, HOPE NOT!
