Last night the Maple Leafs took on the reigning champion St. Louis Blues on the road in a difficult match up.
The Leafs got off to a great start, scoring the first goal within 3 minutes of the opening puck drop on a great read by Mitch Marner, leading to a goal by Zach Hyman:
Marner reads the pass and then sets up a one-timer for Hyman. 1-0 Leafs #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/y4ZwpSZRon
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) December 8, 2019
The Blues got one back quickly though, capitalizing on great pressure on the forecheck to set up the Ivan Barbashev goal:
A turnover and Barbashev fires one home from the slot. 1-1. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/ubVFNvE65T
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) December 8, 2019
The match was the debut opportunity for Pontus Aberg, who the Leafs signed to a 1 year contract last season. He got his first opportunity on the first line, a great chance to impress with Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
While Aberg didn’t do so much on the scoresheet, the line did create a goal for Auston Matthews to put the Leafs up 2-1:
What a play by Nylander and what a shot by Matthews. 2-1 Leafs. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/dNgX5KTa3G
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) December 8, 2019
Still in the first period, Hyman scored his second goal of the game shorthanded on a great rush by rookie Pierre Engvall:
Good pressure in the neutral zone ends with a Hyman SHG. 3-1 Leafs. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/juN8pAfsYJ
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) December 8, 2019
STILL in the first period, the second powerplay unit got a rare conversion of the advantage, on a cracking point shot from Jason Spezza:
Spezza blast one from the point for a PPG. 4-1 Leafs. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/ubjyxpEzeR
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) December 8, 2019
In the second, the Leafs made it even worse for the Blues, on the powerplay again, this time for the first unit and Matthews’ second goal of the game:
Matthews couldn't believe his second goal went in. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/vIgwJn0jIZ
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) December 8, 2019
On to the third period, as the Leafs felt their victory was safe at hand, the Blues capitalized on the lapse in judgement, making the game 5-2:
Perron tips it in with little resistance in front. 5-2. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/kzu4Vsywp0
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) December 8, 2019
Final Thoughts
That was the last entry on the scoresheet as the Leafs took a solid road win. The first two periods especially were executed to perfection giving them the 5-1 lead and basically sealing the deal in the firstly 40 minutes.
This game was the opening of a long road trip that will undoubtedly bring some adversity, so to start with a solid win will be an important boost to confidence.
The Leafs will play next on Tuesday, kicking off a 3 game trip to Western Canada against the Vancouver Canucks.