Leafs Postgame: Flukestad

In Mitch Marner’s 100th career NHL regular season game, Mike Babcock threw his lines in a goshdarn blender tonight.

In a classic “midweek road game” format, the Leafs came out of the gate slow… didn’t score in the first period for the second game in a row, and, well, that’s a painful loss.

On the plus side, well, they picked up a point.

On another plus: Frederik Andersen had another good start.

The Leafs got handled early, played about even the rest of the way, and then went to win it right about the same time Kadri scored. Their shots often came in bunches including outshooting the Panthers 23-13 in the 3rd period, and they definitely played well enough to win, but Roberto Luongo played a darn good game and it was a great goaltending battle.

There were no goals to tell you about, so here’s the best highlight we got from period one.

Unlike Saturday night against the Habs, it’s not quite as fun a hockey game when no one  scores for the first 30 minutes… and then it’s you who gives up the goal.

Nick Bjugstad just kind of tossed the puck on net from behind the goal line, it bounced off Connor Carrick’s skate… and that was the only goal the Leafs allowed all night.

But after 40, the Leafs found themselves down one.

It seems like Nazem Kadri has had his breakout season for about his sixth year in a row.

Getting the shot off at just the right time, Nazem picked the team up and gave them a shot in this game.

Morgan Rielly hit the post with about 3 seconds to go, but, alas, it was not to be.

Due to the previous penalties, the overtime began 3-on-3 and then transitioned to 4-on-3 for the Panthers and then 4-on-4 and then 4-on-3.

Auston Matthews was pulled down on a breakaway, Rielly had a decent shot but couldn’t convert, … Jake Gardiner missed an open net on the breakaway… Freddie made a few key saves… and no one scored.

Who scored?

Matthews – no
Huberdeau- no
Marner- no
Barkov- yes
Marleau: See below!

Trocheck- no
Bozak- no
Bjugstad- yes 🙁

And that was it. Cancel shootouts forever, honestly. Bjugstad scored on a nice deke to his forehand, and added to his lucky tally from earlier.

Kind of a “bleh” game tonight, but hey, better than a regulation loss.

Matt Martin and Zach Hyman left the game briefly. Not sure on exact totals, but looked like Martin didn’t play more than a shift or two in the third period.

Dylan started talking about rompers again:

This tweet popped back into the old timeline after Nazem’s goal…

Our old friend Dom with a bit of a meme fun!

See you Friday against the Hurricanes.