Toronto Maple Leafs: Leafs Drop Canadians 3-2 in Overtime

On opening night, the Toronto Maple Leafs took care of business in the first game of the Kyle Dubas era.

With all eyes on them, the Toronto Maple Leafs took down the Montréal Canadians 3-2 in overtime at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night.

While the Leafs had their rough moments during the game, they were able to use their star-studded offensive firepower to get past their Atlantic Division foe in front of a sell-out opening night crowd.

The game could have been a sneak peek as to how the Leafs will win most of their games this season, but I hope not.  The Leafs offense made up for their overall poor showing, but you can’t win in the NHL long-term by giving up 35 shots per night.  But on opening night, all that matters is getting the win, and that’s exactly what the Leafs did.

First Period

While the crowd was hyped for the debut of John Tavares, the Leafs couldn’t take that momentum and use it to their advantage. The Canadians were strong out of the gate, with Artturi Lehkonen blowing by Ron Hainsey, wrapping around the net and putting the puck past Frederick Andersen for the Habs’ first goal of the year.

The Leafs would rebound though, with Jonathan Drouin hooking Tavares and putting the Leafs on the power play, which did not disappoint. Maintaining control of the puck in the offensive zone, Auston Matthews sent a blistering wrist shot off the post and past Carey Price to tie the game.

The teams were tied in goals (1-1) and in shots (9-9) as they went into the dressing room for the first intermission.

Second Period

In a reverse of the first, the Leafs came out swinging as the second period began. Just 1:57 into the period, the Leafs major free agent signing made his first game in the blue and white one to remember. Controlling a pass coming into the zone, Tavares made a quick cut, taking the ankles out from underneath Matthew Peca, and fired a wrist shot  into the back of the net for his first goal as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

The Toronto Maple Leafs would then get back-to-back opportunities on the power play, but could not get anything by Price, who looked like his usual self after his disastrous campaign last year. Unfortunately, the Leafs would take three penalties in the final 12 minutes of the period, with Andrew Shaw converting on one with 14 seconds left in the period to tie the game at two.

The Habs out-shot the Leafs 12 to 9 in the second and both teams were one for three on the power play as we went into the second intermission.

Third Period

In a the third, the Habs dominated most of the play, outshooting the Leafs 15 to 7  and even getting an opportunity on the power play after Ron Hainsey was called for interference at 6:00. Hainsey did not have a good night, taking this penalty, losing his man on the Habs’ first goal of the game, and never looking completely comfortable controlling the puck in the defensive end. Luckily, Andersen was able to bail the team out, and the Leafs did get their chances, including this one which ended in a beauty of a save by Price, robbing Josh Leivo.

The Habs led in shots at the end of regulation 36 to 25, but the Leafs were able to hold down the fort and force overtime, earning both teams a point in the standings.

Overtime

In an overtime period that lasted just over a minute, the Leafs only needed one shot to end the game, and it came from the stick of number 34, taking a pass from Patrick Marleau and roofing it past Price to win the game for the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had their moments of sloppy play throughout the game, and the Montréal Canadians looked far better than any of us probably gave them credit for coming into the season, but in the end the stacked offense was able to get the Leafs past the finish line and get them their first two points of the year.

Next Up: The Toronto Maple Leafs are back at home on Saturday night as they take on the Ottawa Senators in the newest addition to the “Battle of Ontario”.