Big Save Dave Gets First Leaf Win

After clinching a playoff spot on Wednesday, the Toronto was back in action last night as they hosted the Vancouver Canucks who after losing Wednesday to the Senators now own the last spot in the North Division. Vancouver would have Braeden Holtby in goal and Toronto would turn to Dave Rittich who was looking for a much better performance since his last start against these same Canucks. With the Leafs having their playoff spot locked up they would begin resting players and we would see a total of five players scratched from last night’s Leaf roster. Both Morgan Reilly and Jake Muzzin would sit out along with Nick Foligno, Adam Brooks and Jack Campbell.

Last night due to resting players fans would get to see Timothy Liljegren pair up with Travis Dermott and Ben Hutton who was acquired at the trade deadline would play his first game as a Maple Leaf as he was paired with Justin Holl. Lastly with Adam Brooks getting the night off Pierre Engvall would slot back in on Toronto’s fourth line.

With all the roster moves out of the way now let’s talk about another solid performance by our Maple Leafs. Right from the opening faceoff this game was fast paced and exciting to watch. This game was in Toronto’s favour from the very beginning because even with all the roster changes the Leafs were still able to be the faster team and managed to show off more skill. Early in the opening period we would see Wayne Simmonds who as was mentioned on the broadcast was eyeing up Alex Edler in response for Edler injuring Zach Hyman when these teams last met. As I mentioned early in the opening period Wayne Simmonds would look to fight Edler and to Alex’s credit he answered the call, unfortunately for Edler and Canuck fans he would get the worst of the altercation Edler would need to leave the ice and get stitched up. After this fight Toronto would begin collecting chance after chance forcing Holtby to make some big saves to keep the game scoreless. After Toronto had numerous chances turned aside including one that saw TJ Brodie walk right down main street where he would send a puck ringing off the post. Late in the first period Toronto would be rewarded as William Nylander would receive a pass from Alex Galchenyuk and Nylander would send the puck into the back of the net giving the Leafs the 1-0 lead which they would carry with them into the first intermission.

Leaf fans would not have to wait long for the goals to continue as just 51 seconds into the second period Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews would team up as usual with Marner setting up Matthews for a beautiful one timer that would rocket passed Holtby giving Matthews his 36^th goal of the year and doubling Toronto’s lead 2-0.  The goals would continue just minutes later as Toronto’s fourth line would get in on the scoring as Jason Spezza would set up Pierre Engvall who would score his 4^th goal of the season sending a puck screaming over the shoulder of Holtby growing Toronto’s lead to 3-0. On this goal Spezza would move passed Maurice Richard who he tied the night before in career points. With Toronto now beginning to run away with the game they would find themselves shorthanded as Timothy Liljegren would serve two minutes for his hooking infraction on Bo Horvat. Since Toronto’s five game losing streak, the penalty killing for the Leafs has gotten back on track giving up just one goal in their previous 9 penalty kill’s. Unfortunately, on this occasion Toronto would get scored on as Vancouver’s JT Miller would see his shot deflect off Rittich’s pad and into the net after Dave thought he had made the original save. JT Miller’s powerplay marker would be his 11^th goal of the year and the Canucks would get on the board trailing 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.

 

The third period would not be very difficult for the hometown Maple Leafs as their defensive play would be on display as the team managed to shut the struggling Canucks down and the Leafs would just run the clock down but in the final minuet of regulation the Leafs would light the lamp for the fourth and final time as Braeden Holtby would go to play the puck but instead turn the puck over allowing Alex Kerfoot to capitalize and assist Mitch Marner who would score his 18^th goal of the 2021 season. With this goal Toronto would skate to another victory giving Big Save Dave Rittich his first win in his tenure with the Maple Leafs but also with this victory the Leafs would set a new franchise best. Winning last night now gives the Leafs 69 points in the standings and that is now the most points the team has collected the most points after 50 regular season games in franchise history.

 

The teams will now have Friday off before meeting each other again Saturday night in Toronto for the final time this season.