Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: Future Champs Play Classy Game, Dust Whiners

By James Tanner |
Nov 28, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) skates with the puck in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) skates with the puck in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens last night in a very satisfying 7-1 victory.

The Toronto Maple Leafs got three assists from Ryan O’Reilly, while Auston Matthews scored his 39th goal.

In addition, Mitch Marner had two goals and an assist and now has 98 points.  He probably should have picked up an assist on Matthews’ goal, giving him 99 but as of yet has not been credited for it.

Nylander had a goal and hit two posts.   It was a great game for the Leafs, made especially so because it was a hilarious beatdown of the loser Habs, one of whom crosschecked Michael Bunting from behind when the game was out of reach, nearly inciting a brawl.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Future Champs Play Classy Game, Dust Whiners

Someone the Leafs got an extra penalty on a play that really shows you how bad the NHL officiating is.  The Canadians – who tanked the season – apparently didn’t want that much trying to get Connor Bedard. 

However, in an awesome show of respect, the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach put the emergency goalie that they had backing up Samsonov (in order to clear cap space to sign Matthew Knies, the Leafs manipulated the cap system by not dressing a back-up goalie, which, before anyone complains about this, consider than Boston didn’t dress a healthy Taylor Hall for like two weeks).

Jett Alexander even got to play a minute and ten seconds, living the dream all of us have.  It was a magical Disney-esque moment, and one of the classiest things you’ll see in pro sports, ever.

Speaking of Matthews Knies, he finished the NCAA season and should sign with the Leafs in time to play in their last couple of games. They may have to wait a day or two to sign him depending on the cap situation, but they wouldn’t have sat out Joseph Woll regardless.

Speaking of Woll, he’s got to be on the playoff roster.  There is no way you can trust Matt Murray,  who has played seven times since the middle of January in the playoffs. 

Speaking of playoffs, barring a disaster, I will win my second straight Keeper League hockey pool today, and I will also win one of my two other pools. I made it the finals in all three hockey pools I played this year, and I even won the baseball pool last summer.

So congratulations to me, the King of Hockey pools.  And also congratulations to the future Stanley Cup Champions, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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