Leafs Rebound in Foligno Debut

 

Before I discuss last night’s game, I have to mention the Leafs have been bitten by the injury bug. After losing Zach Hyman for a few weeks due to a strained MCL from the knee on knee hit in Vancouver it was announced the morning of yesterday’s game that Zach Bogosian will miss “more then a week” after crashing hard into the boards Tuesday night, So for last night’s matchup in Winnipeg, game 1 of their three game series we would get to see a defense pair of Travis Dermott and Marlies standout Rasmus Sandin who was only in just his third game of the season. Now for the past five games Tuesday in particular Leaf fans myself included were frustrated with the performance of their goalies so last night heading into the game fans were not sure what to expect. We would see Connor Hellebuyck in goal for Winnipeg who were looking to get back into the win column after dropping their last game to the Oilers and the Leafs would counter with Jack Campbell who was looking to end his three-game winless streak. Also before I start talking about the game former captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets and trade deadline acquisition Nick Foligno would make his Maple Leafs debut joining Auston and Mitch on the top line.

 

If you were away from the tv grabbing some dinner or a cold beverage thinking you had time and would not miss much in the opening minutes you would be mistaken as just 27 seconds into the action Auston Matthews would receive a pass from line mate Mitch Marner and Matthews would score his 34^th goal beating Hellebuyck on the blocker side giving Toronto the early 1-0. Just over 1 minute of play the Leafs would once again light the lamp as Wayne Simmonds would score his 7^th goal of the season beating the Jets goalie with a well-placed backhand shot once again on the blocker side. With the Leafs now ahead 2-0 it looked as if things were going to go smoothly for the Leafs, but the Jets would have other plans. As we know throughout the 2021 campaign turnovers have been an issue for Toronto and in thus opening period the turnover issues would once again appear as Jake Muzzin would fan on his pass and Alex Copp would set up Mark Scheifele for his 18^th goal and the Jets would cut Toronto’s lead in half. Midway through period one there was another turnover as this time TJ Brodie while in the Leafs end would send the puck across ice to a waiting Mason Appleton who see his pass redirected by Alex Copp and just like that this game would be level at 2 goals apiece. Toronto would grab the lead shortly after as Joe Thornton would send a point shot into traffic that would find its way into the back of the net putting Toronto ahead 3-2. With everyone on the bench and I am sure everyone watching along at home thought it was Thornton’s goal but later on in the game the goal was credited to Jason Spezza for his 10^th on the season. After a frantic first period the Leafs would head to the dressing room with a 3-2 lead. Conor Hellebuyck would be chase from the net after this goal and Laurent Brossoit would come in, in relief.

The second period would see the game and the Leafs settle down and play a confident game like we fans are used to, and Toronto would begin to take control of the game allowing the Leafs to play a few minutes on the power play. Toronto would look to double their lead for a second time while on the man advantage however despite some quality scoring chances and scoring a power play goal in each of the last two games the Jets managed to kill off their shorthanded situation. Even though Toronto did not score the positive power play added to their momentum and around the 10-minute mark Toronto’s dynamic duo of Matthews and Marner would team up for a second time but on this occasion, Matthews would assist Marner on his 15^th goal of the season after Mitch would shoot a rolling puck passed Brosoit putting the Leafs up 4-2. On this goal play by play veteran Chris Cuthbert believed Nick Foligno collected his first point as a Maple Leaf, a secondary assist but unfortunately the assist was not given and Leaf fans along with Foligno would have to wait a little longer for his first Leaf point. Toronto would now be leading 4-2 once again with a two-goal cushion but the 2^nd place Winnipeg Jets just would not go away and late in the frame Kyle Connor who seemed to have the puck following him the entire period would pull the Jets to within a goal once again as Connor would be left alone in the slot with Muzzin picking up his lost stick. With Muzzin out of the play Kyle Connor would beat goalie Jack Campbell on the glove side for his 22^nd goal of the season. The Horn would sound and Toronto just like the first period would be holding onto a one goal lead heading into possibly the most important 20 minutes of the Leafs season.

 

In the final frame any questions about Campbells unsteady play were put to rest as he came up huge on many situations because Winnipeg as expected would be pressing for the game tying goal. Jack Campbell would see face many shots seemingly every one of them would come with lots of traffic in front, but Campbell would answer the call every time and turn the Jets chances aside and thanks to this you could see his and the Leafs confidence continue to grow. The Jets would have a great chance to level the game as Joe Thornton would get called for interference a penalty that this morning always brought a $3000 fine from the league but Campbell and the Leafs would stand tall and kill the penalty off. This would seem to take the wind out of the Jets and the clinching goal would come as while the Jets are playing with their net empty Nick Foligno would rightfully collect his first Leaf point getting an assist as he would set up Mitch Marner for the tap in goal into the open cage for his 16^th on the season and second of the contest. We would see a nice moment right after the goal as Mitch would pick up the puck to present it to Foligno after the game to commemorate his first point in his first game as a Leaf.

With Toronto back into the win column thanks to this 5-3 victory snapping the teams five game skid growing their lead on the Jets and the North Division to six points as these two will meet again Saturday night for game 2 in what is sure to be an entertaining rematch.