The Toronto Maple Leafs are back in a playoff spot.
After John Tavares scored the winning overtime goal in a game that really shouldn’t have gone to overtime, the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Anaheim Ducks 5-4.
Both Kyle Clifford and Jack Campbell impressed in their Maple Leafs debuts, but not without some hiccups.
The first period of the game saw the Toronto Maple Leafs actually score the first goal of the game. I know, I was shocked too.
Matthews to Marner to Johnsson who nets his eighth of the year to give the team a one goal lead. However, in true Toronto Maple Leafs fashion, they screwed up a lead. With nine minutes to play in the first, Anaheim scores to tie the game at one.
Kyle Clifford is going no-bucket for his first warmup with #Leafs.
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) February 7, 2020
I didn't even know that was allowed here.
My only criticism of that period? HOW do the Toronto Maple Leafs only get ONE SHOT on goal during which they had a 5-on-3? I just……I don’t know.
Toronto Maple Leafs Win
Anyways, the second period went much better, with both Tavares (PPG) and Matthews (his 40th!!) netting goals for the Leafs.
And, something crazy happened. A Maple Leafs player actually got in a tussle. Kyle Clifford gets into it with Ryan Getzlaf, sending them both to the box.
The uh, the third, well you all know how that went. Two goals by Anaheim tied the game with six minutes to play. Jason Spezza pulled a vintage move out of his pocket to give the team a lead, but Anaheim came right back before the final buzzer.
To Overtime the Toronto Maple Leafs go. But, in true captaincy fashion, John Tavares scored to lift his team to victory (and third in the Atlantic).
For all you stats nerds out there, here’s some fun Toronto Maple Leafs facts that occurred over the course of tonight’s contest.
- Mitch Marner’s OT assist on the John Tavares goal was the 200th of his NHL career.
- Auston Matthews hit the 40 goal mark for the second time in his NHL career, matching his career high from his debut year, and the fifth player in Maple Leafs history with multi-40 goal seasons. Oh, and he tied Alex Ovechkin in the Rocket Richard race.
- Did I mention it was also a FOUR point night for Matthews? Well, now I did. It was also a 3 point night for Marner and Tavares. So, the big boys showed up.
All in all, while it would have been nice to have the game end in regulation, it was a win. Onto Montreal tomorrow night.