Anderson Nets a Last Second Winner

 Photo From CTV Montreal

Well, here we are another Leafs season is upon us and last night the Leafs opened the season on the road against their rivals the Montreal Canadiens. We Leaf fans would see the debut of Matt Murray in goal as well as many other off-season additions. Montreal would continue life without legendary goalie Carey Price as Jake Allen who had recently signed a three-year extension would get the start in goal for the host Canadiens.

Right from the opening faceoff of this contest you could see the Leafs were sluggish and their best effort simply wasn’t there. The game started with both teams playing opening night as if this game was still in the preseason because for the first half of period was slow starting as both teams had each registered just four shots on goal. However, with Montreal fans in attendance trying to spark their team it would be the visiting Leafs who would open the scoring. The Leafs would have possession in the Habs end as TJ Brodie would cover the point sending the puck down low to Mitch Marner who from behind the net would send a pass to an open Michael Bunting whose shot would find the back of the net giving his Leafs the 1-0 lead.  Even though the Leafs had opened the scoring Toronto wasn’t able to really get their game going but thankfully for Toronto when Murray was called upon, he made some good saves keeping his team in the lead.  Defense was a real concern in this opening frame because there were many odd man rushes given up by Toronto and late in the first period Cole Caufield would receive a pass, but his shot would go wide of the Leafs goal. The first period would expire and despite not playing overly well Toronto would head to the dressing room with the 1-0 lead.

Period two would get off to a rough start when just thirty-three seconds into the period yet another odd man rush was given up as Nick Suzuki and Caufield would head into the zone where Suzuki would set up Caufield and this time he wouldn’t miss as his wrist shot would go over the glove side shoulder of Murray leveling the game at ones. With the game now tied Toronto would hit the reset button and begin working on once again grabbing the lead. Toronto would begin to spend more time in their opponent’s end outshooting their opponent, but Jake Allen would turn each Toronto attempt aside. The Leafs would regain the lead just prior to the ten-minute mark of the second period as the Leafs would make their way down the ice as Denis Malgin would lead the attack. As the Leafs entered the zone Malgin would send the puck to John Tavares who would quickly send a pass to William Nylander. Now as kids when climbing the ranks in the game of hockey regardless of the level you’re playing you will have your coach tell you to go to the net, always go to the net. On this play that is exactly what Denis Malgin would do because William Nylander would send a slap pass towards Jake Allen, he would give up a rebound and the puck would land on the stick of Malgin, and he would make no mistake scoring his first goal of the season giving Toronto the 2-1 lead.

 

Since resigning with the Leafs after spending the last few years in Switzerland, playing for Zurich where last year he collected 52 points in 48 appearances Leaf fans for some reason have been knocking this signing and like most things with this Leafs fanbase I will never understand it. In his handful of appearances in the preseason Malgin led the team in scoring with eight points matching the total of prospect Nick Robertson. In typical fashion Leaf fans are mad that Malgin is on this team instead of Robertson so here is a quick teaching moment for Leaf fans who are mad about this decision. Some prospects in their first contract are exempt from Waivers meaning that they can be sent to the minors with absolutely no risk of losing him to another team. Denis Malgin on the other hand would need to clear Waivers and with him collecting eight points in the exhibition season there is no doubt he would be claimed by another team and if that happened it would just lead to another opportunity for fans to cry and complain about Dubas losing another player for nothing, and it goes without saying but if Toronto lost Robertson on Waivers this fanbase would have a meltdown. So, fans need to accept that sending Robertson down to the Toronto Marlies was the correct thing to do, but also don’t worry he will be on the main roster soon enough.

 

So, as I said the Leafs would be leading their rivals 2-1 things were thought to be heading in the right direction for Toronto but once again, they would see their lead evaporate. Turnovers were a big concern for the Leafs all night long and Montreal to their credit capitalized on many of them and in fact a turnover by the Leafs would end up in the back of their net. Michael Bunting would take the puck into the Habs zone and for some reason he would attempt to drop the puck back to Auston Matthews who wasn’t expecting the drop pass because there was no need for it. After the turnover Cole Caufield would enter the Leafs zone with Nick Suzuki on the opposite wing. Caufield would look as if he was going to pass to Suzuki before firing a shot over the shoulder of Murray for his 2^nd of the game leveling the game at two. With the game again tied late in the middle frame we would have some more drama as Alex Kerfoot would head in on a breakaway where he would be hooked by the Canadiens defender resulting in a penalty shot. Unfortunately for the Leafs and their fans Allen would stop the Kerfoot penalty shot, and the teams would head into the second intermission with the game tied 2-2.

 

Special teams will also be an area of improvement for the Leafs because Toronto took far too many penalties playing shorthanded a total of four times. The team’s penalty kill was thankfully perfect but their powerplay was an entirely different story. The Maple Leafs would have four powerplays of their own but would sadly have nothing to show for it because there were times where Toronto was unable to set up their powerplay or if there was an occasion where they were able to set up the team would only manage a single shot on goal.

The third period of this game saw both teams battling looking for the lead yet again but both goalies stood tall for their respective teams. As time was expiring in period three with the two teams trading chances with seventeen minutes played it would be Montreal gaining their first lead of the evening as Jordan Harris would send a point shot towards Matt Murray that would be blocked by Jake Muzzin but it would wind up on the stick of Sean Monahan and he would light the lamp on his birthday giving Montreal their first lead of night as the score would be 3-2.

The teams would line up at centre ice as Toronto would now search for a late equalizer. For Leaf fans we wouldn’t have to wait long because just forty seconds after falling behind the Leafs would find themselves level yet again. The goal would come after Morgan Reilly would knock the puck away from Montreal’s Dadonov and it would be the Leafs countering with a two on one as John Tavares would set up William Nylander who would beat Jake Allen with a backhand on the blocker side for his first goal of the season and his second point of the season. Also, with this goal John Tavares would pick up his second assist of the game and for a guy who faced a lot of unnecessary criticism last year where he scored 76 points in 79 appearances is already off to a strong start this season. Let’s also remember early into training camp Tavares suffered an Oblique injury so last night the teams captain who was likely playing at less then 100% was still able to positively produce for his team.

With this game tied at three and just a little over one minute left in regulation it looked as if the game was going to need overtime to decide a winner for this game. Sadly, Toronto would be on their heels for the remainder of this game. With the Leafs stuck in their zone a point shot would be blocked by Muzzin, he would then attempt to clear the puck, but he would instead send a perfect pass to Nick Suzuki who would set up Josh Anderson who would use Justin Holl as a screen and then send the puck off the cross bar and in with just seventeen seconds left in the game.

Regulation would run out and Montreal would send their fans home happy with a 4-3 win.

As I’m writing this article, I have listened to some post game shows online and I am sitting here shaking my head at the reaction of some of the fans. Did the Leafs play well last night? No that’s obvious but to hear fans say Dubas should trade Mitch Marner or Morgan Rielly after losing the first game of the season it’s embarrassing. Marner last year flirted with a 100-point season last year finishing with 97 and Morgan Rielly is easily this team’s best defenseman. Sure, anyone can be traded but you need to be able to replace said players with something equal or very close in return. If Dubas was to trade either one of those players this Leafs team would be far worst, then what they are right now. To any Leaf fan crazy enough to think trading these players is a good idea please do me a favor, stop watching this team and stop watching the sport of hockey completely because hockey isn’t for you. To the fans who are frustrated but a little saner let’s take a deep breath last night was the first game of the season there are 81 games left this team will get on track and will win plenty of games this season. The Leafs have a quick turnaround as they will play in their home opener on Thursday night as they host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals who are on the second game of a back-to-back after falling to the Boston Bruins Wednesday. Thursday will also be the regular season Leafs debut for Ilya Samsonov as he faces his former team.

 

So that’s it for this one thanks as always for reading I’ll be back with a write up talking about hopefully a Leafs win in their home opener for the 22-23 season.