The Toronto Maple Leafs were coming off an upsetting 2-1 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night, and looking to rebound with a win against the struggling Arizona Coyotes.
The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the Arizona Coyotes into town last night hoping to get back into the win column after a tough loss to the Canadiens on the weekend.
History was on Arizona’s side coming into the game having won eight of the last nine games against Toronto in Toronto (8-0-1), in what surely must be one of the weirdest losing streaks it’s possible to have.
Jack Campbell got the nod to start again after Frederik Andersen was not ready to return to action.
Hyman and Kerfoot Shine Offensively
The Toronto Maple Leafs big boys of Matthews, Nylander and Marner were kind of MIA on the score sheet but that didn’t stop new line mates Hyman and Kerfoot to put a couple of points up on the board.
Before the game we got news that Sheldon Keefe was going with a new first line, which would include… Nylander – Matthews – Marner and by the looks of that you would expect lots of points but that wasn’t the case.
Per Kristen Shilton via Twitter…
#Leafs lines in warmup:
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) February 11, 2020
Nylander-Matthews-Marner
Hyman-Tavares-Kerfoot
Johnsson-Spezza-Kapanen
Clifford-Engvall-Aberg
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Barrie
Sandin-Liljegren
Campbell
Hutchinson
New look second line of Hyman – Tavares – Kerfoot combined for five points on the night and was a big part of the Leafs victory in the end, along with Jack Campbell of course.
Hyman 2G, Kerfoot 2A, and Tavares 1A (stats from thescore.com)
Jack Campbell
Jack Campbell has made quite a name for himself in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform, and in a good way too. After acquiring him and Clifford from Los Angeles the Maple Leafs are 2-0-1, yes that’s a really small sample size but in those three games they have averaged 3.00 GF and 2.66 GA.
Through those three games Jack’s SV% is .917 and his GA is 2.66, not too bad for a back goalie playing three games in five nights and picking up five out of the possible six points too.
Campbell’s calm and coolness in the crease through the first three games have helped the Maple Leafs. Although he has faced an average of 32.3 shots during the past three games he has looked sharp thus far.
Last night against the Coyotes he made 35 saves on 37 shots against along with a couple saves on high danger chances that could’ve helped lead the Coyotes to victory. Campbell also said post game that he would’ve liked to have both goals back and to save both of them, but he is eager to get better each and every night and believes he can. (stats from thescore.com)
Per Mark Masters via Twitter…
Jack Campbell on his night (35/37):
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 12, 2020
"I would've liked to have had both of them so, I mean, nothing ever really changes with me. I expect myself to be almost as perfect as I can. It's a great win... but as far as my own game, I know I can keep getting better each night"
Kapanen Breaks Long Goal Drought
Thanks to Kasperi Kapanen he gets the overtime winner to finish off the Coyotes, and as well breaks his 13 game goal drought where he last scored on January 2, 2020 against the Winnipeg Jets.
Surprisingly Kapanen is not on a similar pace in goals this year as he was last year. As of last night he has 11 goals in 56 games (missed one game due to a sit out) he is currently on pace to finish the season with 16 goals.
After coming off a 20 goal season last year that is not what you want to hear if you’re a Leafs fan, although he does has 21 assists this year putting him on pace to break his career high in assists and also set a new career high in points.
Last year he finished with (20G 24A 44 PTS) he is now on pace as of last night to finish with (16G 30A 46 PTS) (stats from thescore.com).
The Toronto Maple Leafs are back in action tomorrow night at home against the Dallas Stars where they look to build off of last nights victory. You can catch the game at 7pm on Sportsnet Ontario.