The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the Florida Panthers to town last night in hopes they would grab two points this time, yet it didn’t go as planned for them.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were looking to grab their fourth straight win out of the NHL All-Star break.
As well as a very important win in general against a divisional rival, the Florida Panthers.
The Maple Leafs played an excellent 45-50 minutes I wont lie, but a full game is 60 minutes long and that’s where they went wrong.
Toronto Maple Leafs Choke Third Period
Safe to say we all know what happened last night in the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers game, and it was not the prettiest. Don’t get me wrong I with a lot of others thought the Leafs were going to come away with a win in this game, yet another game where they dominate and then fall asleep for a certain amount of time in the third period.
Florida scores three goals in an eight minute span and all heads were down in the Scotiabank Arena. Following with a poor effort from a couple of players in the third period as well, especially a defensemen named Cody Ceci.
Boy was that a terrible stretch of play in the third for Ceci, loses a net front battle to Mark Pysyk just after he throws a puck to the boards to absolutely nobody.
Ceci also deflects the puck into his own net on Hoffman’s goal to make the game 4-3 Florida.
Frederik Andersen Injured
Frederik Andersen left the game last night after the first period due to a collision in the crease. Michael Hutchinson came in to his relief for the second and third period and like I said earlier we know how the game ended up.
Andersen got looked at yesterday and per Chris Johnston on Twitter here is what was reported after the game.
Sheldon Keefe says the "results were positive" on Frederik Andersen's concussion test. They'll revisit it in the morning. He may practice tomorrow.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 4, 2020
Fast forward to today, Frederik Andersen is not taking part in the afternoon practice and the team has called up goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo to take his spot in practice most likely.
As per Sheldon Keefe after practice, Frederik Andersen is day-to- day with a neck injury and Michael Hutchinson will start in net tomorrow against the Rangers. His timeline for return is still unknown.
Andersen is day-to-day with a neck injury
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 4, 2020
Hutchinson starts tomorrow at Rangers
Players Continue to Shine
I know this game was hard to watch and take in because of a third period collapse, but lets look at the bright side of things… The big boys are still on fire and producing at a ridiculous rate.
Last night Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares all put up points respectively and combined for three goals and two assists.
William Nylander also continues his point streak to eight game (6G 4A 10 PTS) Auston Matthews as well has a little point streak of his own which currently stands at four game (3G 2A 5 PTS) and of course Mitch Marner, what a season this guy is having despite missing time due to injury. Currently on a five game point streak (1G 6A 7 PTS) (Stats from thescore.com)
The Toronto Maple Leafs are back in action tomorrow night when they take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, 7:30pm puck drop and yet another important game to be played tomorrow.