Looking to get back into the win column, the Toronto Maple Leafs played host to the Pittsburgh Penguins and it was Toronto’s turn to beat them.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were coming off two straight losses entering last nights game, 5-2 loss to Buffalo and another 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh just days ago.
The team needed a bounce back win, the team needed to play great in-front of Frederik Andersen, the team needed that “look in the mirror” and find that “urgency and passion” that Jake Muzzin said to the media following their 5-2 loss in Pittsburgh Tuesday night.
Well, it is safe to say the Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back, and played a great game from puck drop to final buzzer.
Keefe Goes With Andersen
The main question after Tuesdays 5-2 loss was, who is Keefe going to start on Thursday. Andersen was the answer, it may seem like the wrong move but it also may seem like the right move as well.
Frederik Andersen was struggling since returning from his neck injury which was sustained against Florida on Feb 3rd. His numbers entering last nights game were 0-3-0, GA 4.33 and SV% 0.835 and boy did Frederik Andersen have himself a huge bounce back win against an elite team in the Penguins.
Stopping all 24 shots faced, Andersen picks up his second shut out of the season in a 4-0 win. Safe to say that win will defiantly boost his confidence in the long run. (Stats from thescore.com)
Muzzin Backs up his Words
Following Tuesday nights horrible loss to the Penguins Jake Muzzin told reporters the team needed to look in the mirror and find that love of the game that they were missing as of late.
Jake Muzzin: "Everyone's got to take a look in the mirror. We got to be better. That's unacceptable. We got to find the urgency, the passion, the love of the game, the love to compete for each other. All that needs to come. I don't know what it's not there ..."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 19, 2020
Jake Muzzin backed his words up with a great performance last night picking up three points (1G 2A) and being great defensively, limiting Pittsburgh to any high danger chances. (Stats from thescore.com)
A lot of players played great games last night. Even if they didn’t show up on the score sheet. Denis Malgin made his Maple Leaf debut and looked speedy on the wing with Nylander and Tavares. Others who had great nights all around were Kapanen, Kerfoot, Tavares, and the Matthews line putting lots of pressure in the Penguins zone at times in the game.
Not a lot of players had bad games, it was for sure a great bounce back win and a great performance by everybody.
Start of Something Good?
This is the type of game and win the Toronto Maple Leafs needed to boost their confidence for their remaining schedule. After last nights 4-0 win the Maple Leafs next four games come against Carolina at home, Tampa Bay and Florida on the road, and Vancouver at home to finish off the month of February.
We all know that this team has been inconsistent as of late and it really shows, but could this win help the team and make them put together a winning streak down the stretch? After last nights game William Nylander said to the media that this is a good start and this is what the team needed after recent struggles.
William Nylander: "This is what we needed ... this is a good start ..."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 21, 2020
Nylander also stated to the media, “Every game is important right now, it’s almost like the playoffs right now for us”
If the Leafs want to make playoffs, they’re going to obviously play like its the playoffs down the stretch, because no team is going to be taken lightly and third place in the Atlantic is no guarantee either.
On top of a great win, some of Toronto’s big players continue to stay hot in the month of February.
Marner, Matthews, Tavares, and the underrated Hyman all continued their hot streak by picking up points last night.
In the month of February:
Hyman: 11 GP – 5G 5A 10 PTS
Marner: 11 GP – 2G 9A 11 PTS
Matthews: 11 GP – 7G 5A 12 PTS
Tavares: 11 GP – 5G 7A 12 PTS
The Toronto Maple Leafs are back at it tomorrow night at home when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes who are having their own struggles too as of late since Dougie Hamilton has gone down with an injury.