Toronto Maple Leafs Win 2nd Game in a Row to Enter Christmas Break

The Toronto Maple Leafs responded quite well to losing back-to-back games *in regulation * for the first time all season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs declared themselves the best team in the NHL when they manhandedled the ex champs from Tampa on Tuesday.

Then they came out and kept it going Thursday, crushing the Flyers in a game whose score made it seem a lot closer than it was.

The Leafs destroyed them.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Flyers

We’ll have to wait a bit longer to witness the Leafs debut of Dryden Hunt, but the team did quite fine without him.

The Leafs finished with 58% puck possession, 69% of the dangerous chances, and 64% of the expected goals in this 4-3 final which is a very complimentary final score for the Flyers.

The Leafs got goals from Jarnkrok, Bunting, Marner and Nylander.

Jarnkrok scored for the first time since being injured earlier last month.  Nylander scored his 20th of the season, which surprisingly, leads the team.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was their sixth straight win at home, and their second straight overall.

After embarrassing the Lightning on Tuesday, the Leafs again looked unbeatable, playing a nearly perfect game for the second time in a row.  Ironically, they could easily have won both games they lost last week doing nothing different.  They are on fire right now.

Unfortunately, Rasmus Sandin – who has been neck and neck with Timothy Liljegren for the title of “best Leafs defenseman” this season so far – was injured in the game against Tampa.

It is not expected to be a serious injury, but it was his neck so the team is being precautious and has placed him on the IR.  Hopefully he will be back next week after Christmas when the Leafs take on the Blue and Coyotes on Tuesday and Thursday, before going up against the Avalanche on New Year’s Eve.

The Leafs have had all their defenseman injured this year, and it’s actually impressive they were able to beat even the Flyers while dressing Giodano, Holl, Benn, Liljegren, Brodie and Timmins, which is pretty brutal, at least on paper.

The Leafs paired Jordie Benn with Timothy Liljegren and he pretty much dominated his minutes, so it’s hard to complain about the injuries when every single guy they sub in just comes in and kills it. Sure, you don’t expect much from a 35 year old Jordie Benn, but the guy has delivered every single game he’s played all year, it’s really quite amazing.

Another day, another victory for the NHL’s best team.