Leafs Storm the Kings Castle

 

After shutting out the Islanders on Sunday the Leafs would then begin the Western swing as they traveled to Los Angeles for their first of three games in California. Last night in front of a packed house at the Staples Center the Leafs would look for redemption for the 5-1 loss the Kings handed the Leafs earlier this season. The goalie duo for this matchup would be the same as before Jack Campbell for the Leafs and Jonathan Quick for the Kings. I also must mention that Sean Durzi who was originally a draft choice by the Leafs a few years ago but would be packed in the deal that brought Jake Muzzin to Toronto would be making his NHL debut after collecting seven points in his last few games with the AHL’s Ontario Reign.

 

Throughout this season Leaf fans have often wondered if their team would start on time because as we all know when it comes to cheering for this team you do not know what team is going to show up on a nightly basis. Thankfully last night the Leafs started the game with a purpose as they would apply pressure on the Kings right from the opening faceoff. Unfortunately, just ninety seconds into the game there would be some concern for the Leafs as David Kompf would be taken off his feet by Rasmus Kupari and after landing awkwardly Kompf would leave the game for precautionary reasons. Toronto would be unable to score on the early powerplay but after trading early chances the visiting Leafs who open the scoring as Wayne Simmonds would send a stretch pass to Ondrej Kase who would see Alex Kerfoot heading to the net, Kase would send a pass to Kerfoot, and he would send a backhand shot passed Quick and into the net and the Leafs would be ahead 1-0 early in the contest. Toronto would stay on their toes building momentum and gaining more and more confidence as the scoring chances would pile up for the Leafs as Simmonds and Engvall would both have scoring chances in close only to see Quick turn them away. Untill the ten-minute mark of the first period Jack Campbell was not tested all that much but a powerplay for the Kings thanks to an interference minor from Nylander would seem to spark LA as they would spend more time in the Leafs zone forcing Campbell to battle through traffic and make some big saves and because of his strong play in goal early on the Leafs would head to the intermission with a 1-0 lead.

 

Before I go any further, I have got to mention the look the Kings went with last night now if anyone who reads this if you stayed up late you know what I am talking about but for those you chose to sleep let me explain. The LA Kings before the season unveiled a new look for this campaign, and the look consists off the old Silver and White Kings jerseys from the Gretzky era, but the helmets are chrome coloured so all you see are the guys skating around in shiny silver helmets. Now the jersey’s secretly I love but the helmets make the entire thing look ridiculous and if I am not mistaken Vegas has a similar look with gold helmets. So, to both teams whoever thought chrome-coloured helmets was a good idea fire them because it honestly looks stupid.

 

So, now that I have said my piece on that the second period of this game would see the flood gates open. The Kings would have a powerplay carry into the middle frame as Auston Matthews would finish his check but be called for boarding that left many fans and even broadcasters calling the game scratching their heads because we have seen that exact hit for decades be looked at as clean. With the Leafs shorthanded their penalty kill in this current stretch has been a real highlight for the team but on this occasion the Matthews minor would sting the Leafs as Viktor Arvidsson would deflect a point shot passed Campbell tying the game at ones with his third of the season but on this goal, Sean Durzi would collect his first NHL point with an assist. With the game now level and the Kings seemingly back in this game the Leafs would get right back to work and honestly would take the home crowd right out of the game as just minutes later the Maple Leafs would gain the lead again and never look back as Wayne Simmonds after collecting a drop pass from Sandin would look up and see Pierre Engvall driving the net with his stick on the ice. As we all know when you go to the net good things happen Simmonds would send the puck to Engvall, and he would have an easy tap in for his second goal of the year and his first since the team’s home opener. Toronto would continue their offensive onslaught as they would pin the Kings in their end of the ice forcing tired players to stay out for LA and the strong zone play would reward the Leafs as William Nylander would send a slap shot towards goal, but John Tavares would redirect it passed Quick for his team leading nineth of the season. After not scoring on their earlier man advantage the Leafs would have another opportunity as Matt Roy would be forced to grab hold of Tavares thanks to some great work down low by the captain and with Roy serving his two-minute minor veteran Jason Spezza would receive a Sandin pass and after walking in would tee up a shot that beats Jonathan Quick. Now as I was typing that I realized I skipped ahead and missed a goal entirely so instead of editing we are just going to back track here a little bit. So, the Leafs would be ahead 3-1 after the Tavares deflection and the line of Matthews, Marner, and Bunting would showcase some of their great chemistry as Marner would send a cross ice pass to Matthews but instead of Auston shooting he would send a touch pass to Michael Bunting who was streaking down the slot he would unfortunately end up looking up at the lights as Bunting’s shot would go ringing off the cross bar and out of play. Matthews however would be rewarded just minutes later as he would be down low with the puck Tavares would take Marner’s spot. John and Auston would begin to work together cycling the puck behind the Kings goal and after winning the board battle John Tavares would wrap the puck around to Matthews who would lift the puck over a sprawled Jonathan Quick. This goal Auston’s eighth would give the Leafs a 4-1 lead and the Spezza power play goal that I mistakenly talked about earlier would grow the Leaf lead to 5-1 which would be the score after forty minutes of action.

 

The final period would start much like the game did with the Leafs controlling the action and just a few minutes into the frame they would light the lamp for a sixth time as Marner would support Bunting along the boards working for the puck. The puck would eventually make its way to the point to a waiting Rasmus Sandin who was staring at an open goal and what was thought to be a sure goal for him and the Leafs but Jonathan Quick would make a highlight reel save stopping the Sandin shot with his paddle. Michael Bunting would find the lose puck and during the mad scramble he would poke at the lose puck and would receive a lucky bounce as the puck would hit the skate of Philip Danault and into the goal and the Leafs would hold a 6-1 advantage thanks to Bunting’s fifth goal of the season. After this goal for the most part the Leafs were in cruse control after this because the game was well in hand but late in regulation the LA Kings would get a consolation prize as after collecting a pass from Adrian Kempe Viktor Arvidsson would pass to Sean Durzi who was all alone in the slot. He would fire a wrist shot ringing off the post and in for his career goal. One thing I would like to mention is the great character Durzi showed after scoring the goal. Usually when a player scores their first career goal understandably, they are extremely excited regardless of the score but Durzi after scoring quietly celebrated with his teammates on the ice because he understood that sure the first goal was a great accomplishment, but it did not change the result because the Leafs would go on and win this game by a score of 6-2.

 

After the game Sheldon Keefe when asked about the status of David Kompf had no update but said that he would be evaluated on Thursday. The Leafs trip through the Golden State continues Friday night when they travel to San Jose to swim with the Sharks. Make sure to put the coffee on because this one has a 10:30 start. So that’s all for this one thanks as always for reading now I am going to spend the rest of my day with my feet up watching the NFL Triple Header I have to say the Americans celebrate their Thanksgiving right, with football on all day Canada should take note.

 

GO COWBOYS!!!