Nylander the Overtime Hero in St Louis

 

Photo From Toronto Star

Last night the Leafs returned to action following the Christmas break against their one-time Norris Division rivals the St Louis Blues. This game was the first of a three-game road trip to end 2022.  Everyone likely thought Matt Murray would get the start for the Leafs, but Ilya Samsonov went to Sheldon Keefe and asked for the start. Ilya despite beating Philadelphia in the Next Generation game wasn’t happy with his performance and wanted to redeem himself.

The St Louis Blues would go with Jordan Binnington, the first period would see Toronto get off to a quick start and with just three minutes into the game the Leafs would open the scoring. Auston Matthews would send the puck to Mark Giordano, he would see his point shot ring off the crossbar. Justin Holl would pounce on the rebound and score his 2^nd goal of the season, his first since scoring the overtime winner against Ottawa back in October.

A few minutes later momentum would switch to the favor of the Blues and the Leafs would get hemmed into their zone, one time Leaf Calle Rosen would send a slap shot passed a sprawling Samsonov leveling the game at one. The Blues would continue to dominate the play, but Ilya Samsonov did what was needed and battled to find the puck and making saves keeping the Blues from gaining the lead. In the final minute of the opening period when it looked as if these teams would be tied during the intermission, but we would see the chemistry between Mitch Marner and John Tavares. Mitch would drive the net and the Blues thought he would be the one to shoot, instead he would pass to a wide-open John Tavares whose wrist shot would beat Binnington for his 15^th goal of the season and after twenty minutes the Leafs would lead 2-1.

The second period would get off to a bad start for the visiting Leafs as Justin Holl would be sent off for boarding, the powerplay for the Blues would be a frustrating one because it would be the Leafs who would be rewarded. During the penalty kill the Leafs would break in on a 3 on 1 rush. Calle Jarnkrok who collected a secondary assist on the earlier Tavares goal would cycle around the St Louis net before sending the puck back to Timothy Liljegren at the point. Liljegren’s point shot would be stopped by Binnington, but the puck would sneak through the pads and Alex Kerfoot would tap in the loose puck for his 5^th goal of the season giving Toronto a 3-1 lead. If I was a fan of the Blues, I would be angry after this goal because Binnington completely gave up on the goal when he could have easily recovered because the puck was moving so slow. I understand that Binnington was a huge factor in the team’s cup win a few years ago but, in my opinion, since he signed his new contract, his play has dropped but that’s an article for another day.

With the Leafs leading 3-1 and looking as if they were about to run away with the game the Blues had other ideas and quickly managed to tie the game. St Louis would climb to within a goal when Ryan O’Reilly would make his way into Toronto’s zone with Justin Holl defending him. Now, Justin has played well this season, but this goal was thanks to a massive mistake. Holl would continue backing up into the site line of his netminder and O’Reilly would fire a wrist shot into the net for his 10^th goal of the season. On this goal all Justin Holl had to do was step up and take away the space that he gave Ryan it really is that simple but as I have said many times in this blog there are many times where Holl does a positive or productive play, but for every good play he does there’s always one that leaves you scratching your head.

Two minutes later St Louis would tie the game with a goal that Samsonov would like back. With the Blues on the powerplay the puck would be centered to Justin Faulk at the top of the slot. Faulk would send a slap shot under the blocker of Ilya Samsonov for his 6^th goal of the season. The game now tied the teams would both be searching for the lead but momentum would be in total favor of the St Louis Blues but late in the second period Jordan Binnington would give up another soft goal that would frustrate the Blues fans. Pierre Engvall would send the puck to Pontus Holmberg who would drive the net, his attempt would be stopped but Jarnkrok would reach for the puck and as it was sliding along the goal line and Binnington would end up knocking the puck in for Calle’s 7^th goal of the season and his third point of the evening and after forty minutes Toronto would lead this game 4-3.

With just twenty minutes left in the game the third period would have a few moments of controversy. Five minutes into play the Blues would tie the game once again as Jordan Kyrou would beat a screened Samsonov for his 17^th goal of the season. This goal shouldn’t have happened because there was a missed interference penalty when the Blues player ran a pick on Jordie Benn taking him out of the play. Sheldon Keefe rightfully lost his mind over the non-call letting Wes McCauley know his frustration because not only was Wes watching the play, but he was the guy who called that exact penalty on Toronto in game 7 against Tampa Bay costing Toronto a goal. So, with the game now tied 4-4 we would see both goalies try to focus in on their play with the hopes of giving their team a chance to win. Both Binnington and Samsonov would make some big and important saves that will hopefully bring them some confidence, for the remainder of the period we would see teams trading chances. With less then two minutes remaining in regulation Wes would be the center of attention once again because yet again he missed an obvious penalty. Zack Aston-Reese would be in the corner battling for the puck, and he would be victim of a high stick drawing blood instantly. Now, everyone knows that an infraction that draws blood carries with it a four-minute penalty but for some unknown reason the four officials on the ice some how missed it when all four are following the puck watching the play because that is the most important part of their job. Regulation would end would the game still tied at four meaning five minutes of overtime would be needed to determine a winner.

The overtime would be an exciting one because it would start with TJ Brodie fooling everyone by skating towards the bench before receiving a stretch pass sending him in alone on a breakaway. Brodie would be hauled down leading to a penalty shot. Unfortunately, Brodie would be stopped on the penalty shot meaning overtime would continue. In the last few minutes of three on three the Leafs would be unable to clear the zone for the needed change. St Louis would be on the counterattack with Tarasenko leading the rush with three exhausted Leaf players trying to make their way back to defend. Auston Matthews would make a great play forcing Tarasenko to turn back to the point looking to plan a new attack, but William Nylander would knock the puck away and head in on a breakaway and with the game on his stick he would beat Jordan Binnington with a backhand for his 21^st goal of the season winning this one for Toronto.

I know fans may be concerned with the play of Samsonov recently but let’s remember he has won two of his last three starts and has a record of 11-3 this season. Yes, he had numbers that had him in the top five in goaltending but at the same time everyone knew that he, like any goalie was going to have a stretch where his play would slip. We seem to be at that point in the season but there is no doubt in my mind that he will rebound, and his play will get back on track. I have mentioned this in a few conversations I have had but I think it is a major positive for this Leaf team but in years past when Toronto seemed sluggish at points where they would give up some frustrating goals they would fold and go through the motions untill the end of the game. This season however we are seeing the Leafs battle and find ways to get back into a contest and like last night they work hard finding ways to win games. For me that shows signs of growth and maturity in the group, and I really think that is a positive sign as Toronto prepares for a very important playoff run.

The Leafs are back in action Thursday night when they visit Arizona State University to play the Coyotes. Thanks as always for reading.