More Magic From Matthews
Yesterday
was International Women’s Day so I want to start this blog by giving a stick
tap to all the strong women in our lives and to those who have played an
important part in the worlds history.
Last
night the Leafs were back in action in their second game of a back-to-back as
they played host to the expansion Seattle Kraken. Toronto so far this season
hadn’t faired very well in back-to-back situations, heading into this game
their record sat at 3-4-1. Their starter for this game would be Jack Campbell
who had seen his play slide in recent games but in his post-game availability after
the loss to Vancouver he promised he would get his game back and last night was
a good chance for him to bounce back because Campbell was also in goal for the
Leafs first ever win in Seattle on Valentines Day. Seattle has been struggling
all season and the start of this month is no different as they had lost three
of the four games in March heading into last night’s meeting with the Leafs,
their starting goalie would be Philipp Grubauer.
The
first period of this game saw Toronto start things on the front foot as they
would be searching for the games opening goal right away and just three minutes
into the game they would have a chance as the Leafs powerplay would be called
to action. With Joonas Donskoi serving a tripping minor Toronto’s league
leading power play would open the scoring. Morgan Rielly would have possession
at the point where he would move the puck over to William Nylander, he would
see Auston Matthews all by himself at the left circle. Matthews would receive the
cross-ice pass from Nylander and fire the puck through the pads of Grubauer for
his 41st goal of the season to give the Leafs the early 1-0
advantage. Unfortunately, Toronto’s lead wouldn’t last as minutes later Seattle
would tie the game at ones. Seattle would win the puck in a battle along the
boards before sending the puck over to Carson Soucy, his first shot would hit
the skate of teammate Mason Appleton and bounce right back to Soucy who would
beat Campbell on his second attempt for his 7th goal of the season.
David Kampf would leave the ice needing to get patched up after getting a stick
to his face so in his place for the time being was John Tavares was in his spot
and that decision from Keefe paid off. TJ Brodie would send a stretch pass to
Pierre Engvall who would then send the puck to Tavares who was in all alone,
John would show off his great hands before scoring his 19th goal of
the season and it is great to see a look of confidence from John since his 14-game
scoring drought came to an end Saturday against Vancouver. Wayne Simmonds who
before this game was honored for reaching the 1000 game milestone and he was
playing with a definite spark and late in the opening period he had a great
chance to score Toronto’s third goal, but Grubauer managed to get his pad down
keeping the Leafs from adding to their lead and after twenty minutes Toronto would
head into the intermission with a 2-1 lead.
Period
two would see the Leafs powerplay capitalize on an opportunity once again, this
team as Mark Giordano was serving a delay of game penalty. While in the Kraken
zone Ondrej Kase would begin a great bit of passing at the top of the zone, TJ
Brodie would receive a pass at the top of the slot before quickly moving the
puck to William Nylander who was at the right-wing wall. Nylander would fire a
wrist shot as Tavares was trying to create a screen, but Nylander’s shot would
end up going right through Grubauer, a goal that he would surely like back, but
Toronto would see their lead grow to 3-1 thanks to Nylander’s 22nd
goal of the season and his second point of the evening. In this recent stretch holding
leads has been an issue and a reason of concern for the Leafs and their fans
and last night was no different because it didn’t take long before Toronto’s
two goal lead had evaporated. Just prior to the midway point of the second period
Seattle would pull too within a goal as Seattle would head into the Leafs zone
on an odd man rush with Marcus Johansson carrying the puck. Travis Dermott
would sprawl hoping to block a pass to Alex Wennberg, but Johansson would elevate
his pass over Dermott and Wennberg would slide the puck into the Leafs net for
his 7th goal of the season. Toronto would have a chance to
reestablish their two-goal lead as Mark Giordano was serving a cross-checking minor,
but Seattle would end up tying the game after a terrible giveaway by Nylander
in an attempt to drop the puck back to Rielly. Due to this giveaway Yanni
Gourde would begin the counterattack yet another odd man rush given up by Toronto,
Gourde would be at the end of his shift so he would centre a pass to Collin
Blackwell who would beat a sprawling Jack Campbell for his 8th goal
of the season. Now for everyone that has followed this blog you’ll know that I
am a Nylander supporter, but it is decisions like the one he made last night
that bring him criticism and its rightfully deserved.
On this
play the Leafs had the man advantage, Nylander carries the puck into the Seattle
zone which is fine but what he should have done is send the puck around the Kraken
goal because he had John Tavares on the far wing in support. Rielly would have
then been at the point where he was expected to be. With Nylander deciding to
drop the puck back to an unexpected Rielly he was caught flat footed resulting
in the 2 on 1 that lead to Seattle’s third goal.
The
score would remain tied as we began the third and final period and six minutes
into the third the frustration of Leaf fans would grow as Seattle would take
the lead for the first time this game. Seattle would win possession of the puck
behind the goal as a pass would make its way to Jeremy Lauzon who would quickly
take a shot from the point, his shot would end up redirecting off the leg of
Jaden Schwartz and in giving him seven goals this season and we would see the
expansion Seattle Kraken now lead this game by a score of 4-3.
With
Toronto trailing and looking like the Leafs and their fans would leave the
arena disappointed, the Leafs top line a line that is being considered the best
line in the league right now decided to take over and with half of the third
period played we would see this game tied for a third time. Michael Bunting
would intercept the puck in the neutral zone before chipping the puck ahead to
Mitch Marner. Bunting would then show off some agility by somehow managing to
stay onside as Marner sent him a touch pass, with every fan in the building buzzing
in anticipation Bunting to shoot he chose to slide the puck over to Auston
Matthews who would dance around Grubauer and slide his backhand shot into the
net for his 42nd goal of the season and second of the night. With
the score now level at 4-4 Toronto would be heading to the powerplay because
Carson Soucy would get called for cross-checking on David Kampf. The Leafs
would need just five seconds to regain the lead as John Tavares would win the
faceoff and send the puck back to a waiting Mitch Marner who would first evade Seattle
forward Joonas Donskoi before firing a wrist shot passed the Kraken netminder
for his 23rd goal of the season, his 5th powerplay marker
this season and the Leafs would lead this game 5-4.
Seattle
would begin looking for an equalizer, but Jack Campbell would stand tall in
goal for the Leafs as he did a great job not giving up many rebounds, he would
always freeze play when things got a little hectic in his teams end of the ice.
Auston Matthews had scored a pair of goals in this game, and he ended all hopes
of Seattle tying the game at five when in the last minute of play Timothy
Liljegren would set up Matthews for his hat trick goal that would find the open
net as Seattle had called their goalie to the bench for the extra attacker. This
exciting high scoring game would end with the Leafs winning this game by a
score of 6-4 giving goalie Jack Campbell his first win since February 17th
against Detroit.
Now I
want to give my thoughts on some of the criticism that Jack Campbell got during
the second intermission and after the game from the TSN panel. I understand
they are paid to give their thoughts and opinions but looking at the four goals
that beat Campbell I ask which goal would you blame Campbell for? The first
goal hit a skate before going back to Soucy before scoring on his second
attempt. Jack Campbell was “slow getting back” because he reacted to the first
shot something that every single goalie in the league would do. The next two
Seattle goals were both odd man rushes and it is baffling to blame a goalie on allowing
a goal when he is outnumbered. I can see criticizing a goalie if he doesn’t
make any effort in an attempt to try and stop the shot then that’s fine criticize
him but you can likely count on one hand how many times Jack Campbell gave up
on a play and I am willing to bet you’ll have trouble coming up with any examples,
and of course the fourth goal from Seattle saw Campbell lined up with the shot
before it changed direction on him. Has Jack been perfect all season? Of
course, not no one is even Hall of Fame goalies have bad nights throughout
their careers but last night Jack Campbell did fine he did what a goalie is
supposed to do he gave his team a chance to win by making key saves when called
upon. Toronto is in action again Thursday evening when the Arizona Coyotes and
former Leafs Phil Kessel and Nick Ritchie pay a visit to the Scotiabank Arena.
Just
before I wrap this one up Chris Johnston is reporting that the Leafs have made
a few minor signings, first Kyle Clifford who with the Marlies has registered
three assists in eight appearances has a new two-year extension worth $762K a
year. With his new deal it’s likely he’ll be with Marlies and will occasionally
make appearances with the Leafs as a depth forward for the big club. Lastly,
they have also extended defenseman Carl Dahlstrom who has appeared in one game
for the Leafs, but most of his time has been with the Marlies where he has registered
13 assists in 36 appearances, his extension is for 1 year 2-way deal also worth
$762K for the upcoming season.
Thanks
as always for reading.
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