We’re going streaking!
Kasperi Kapanen and the Leafs reigned victorious tonight. A 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings was the most recent installment of Toronto’s relentless offensive showings early into this season. Kappy’s coming out party continues, and William’s holding out party is starting to matter less and less.
1st Period
We kicked things off in a hurry tonight.
kasperi kapanen banks one in from behind the net 45 seconds into this one and it’s 1-0 buds pic.twitter.com/y64eDCu5HD
— The Leafs Nation (@TLNdc) October 15, 2018
With Auston Matthews driving the play right out of the gates, it was Matthews who would find Kasperi Kapanen with a feed to the back of the net. Kapanen would break the scoreless tie just 45 seconds into the game, with a clever bank shot that found its way past Kings goalie Jack Campbell for the early 1-0 lead.
The goal was Kapanen’s third of the season already. An impressive early impact from Kappy, who’s looking to solidify a top-six roll in Nylander’s absence.
That wasn’t all for the first, either. With 22 seconds left to go in the first, it would be Patrick Marleau potting his first of the season:
daddy marleau puts the leafs up 2-0 with his first of the season and it comes on the powerplay pic.twitter.com/JPlJFvYMl6
— The Leafs Nation (@TLNdc) October 16, 2018
A beautifully placed shot by Marleau parked in front of the net, and another power play goal for the Leafs. Just unfair.
The Leafs would carry the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
2nd Period
The second period would swing a little more in the Kings’ favor possession-wise. With LA controlling the bulk of the play, Ilya Kovalchuk would beat Garret Sparks early on in the 2nd. Kovalchuk kicks it back to 2013, not only by scoring a goal but also by being on a team that thinks Dion Phaneuf is good. 2-1.
The Leafs would once again re-gain their 2 goal lead later in the frame, however.
marner from tavares and hyman and it’s 3-1 buds! pic.twitter.com/emZa8F1vUh
— The Leafs Nation (@TLNdc) October 16, 2018
A great effort by Zach Hyman, a beautiful feed by John Tavares, and a beautiful reminder that Mitchell Marner is a Toronto Maple Leaf. 3-1 good guys.
(Mitch Marner would go on to take two consecutive penalties, but we’ll pretend that never happened).
The Kings would go on to outshoot the Leafs 15-8 in the second period, but the Leafs maintained a 3-1 lead.
3rd Period
kapanen and matthews making magic again and it’s 4-1 leafs ? pic.twitter.com/x3hJ3ESr50
— The Leafs Nation (@TLNdc) October 16, 2018
THAT’S KAPPY.
Kasperi Kapanen’s first multi-goal game of his career is the icing on the cake tonight, as the Leafs reigned victorious for the fifth straight game to improve to 6-1-0 on the season.
Notes
- Garret Sparks was terrific tonight, stopping 33 of 34 to quickly erase his shaky first game from our collective memories.
- Auston Matthews was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season. #Trade?
- The Corsis were not kind to the Leafs tonight, finishing with a 43.31 CF% on the night. Hug your goalie, love your goal scorers I suppose.
Online #Content
“Go Kappy Go!” #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/uznzwg8BJ5
— ????? ??????? (@davidnestico200) October 16, 2018
Go Kappy Go!
Garret Sparks is the first Leafs goalie to not let in two or more goals in a game this season.
— Mike Stephens (@bymikestephens) October 16, 2018
#GarretBetter?
wAiT uNtI’ tHeY pLaY sOmE pLaYoFf TeAmS
— Where the Salty Fans at? (@Leafs_Universe) October 16, 2018
Right?
Back at it on Thursday against Phil Kessel and the Pen’s. Guess we’ll finally see what it’s like to play a playoff team, huh?
Until then…
SPOOKY ALL DAY BABY #LEAFSFOREVER @3rdPeriodSuits pic.twitter.com/WZDIJovFgr
— Vishal (@DhillonVishal31) October 16, 2018
Great game. This was a decent all around team effort and shows that corsi aint all that indicative in some games. The zone exits were quite improved with the forwards coming back to help. Stretch passes were replaced by short outlets. All three d pairs played roughly the same number of minutes. Sparks played big league well, qnd returned to the form we knew of him from the marlies’ cup run. The team boxed out and cleared rebounds. Score effects were most of the reason corsi was weak. The buds know how to take advantage of opportunities.
Now we just need willie to sign any deal to get him back in the lineup.
Also PK was pretty good, (I know LA has a terrible PP but still).