Leafs Post-Game: Victory
By Shawn Reis
9 years ago
The Leafs wanted to get the same result that they did Wednesday, but this time they actually wanted to play well. Mission accomplished: Toronto swept the home-and-home against the Red Wings and won themselves the season series with a big 4-1 win tonight against Detroit.
THE RUNDOWN
The Red Wings were probably the better team in the first period and they were rewarded for that. Niklas Kronwall scored on a powerplay one-timer late in the period, with Darren Helm alone in front free to screen Bernier. The Leafs had a quick answer though, with James van Riemsdyk tipping home a Phil Kessel shot on a man advantage of the Leafs’ own.
From then on, the Leafs really took it to Detroit. They played strong in the second period carrying much of the play, and they capped it off late in the period with a nice little breakaway goal from Richard Panik. Then early in the third the Leafs good fortune continued, this time Morgan Rielly providing a really nice end-to-end goal. With Detroit already playing in the tail end of a back-to-back, that was enough to secure the Leafs another huge two points. Nazem Kadri finished it off with an empty-netter to boot.
BLUE WARRIOR
19:26 of ice-time, 6 shots on goal, an empty-netter, and a Corsi% of 69, Nazem Kadri was fantastic tonight. He’s your Blue Warrior.
NOTES
- The Leafs win the season series against the Red Wings 3-1-1.
- Team Corsi numbers tonight: Toronto 51%, Detroit 49%.
- Toronto’s Corsi King: Trevor Smith, 80%.
- Toronto’s Corsi Goat: Phil Kessel, 35%.
- There was a debate as the game wore on about whether or not Jonathan Bernier should start again tomorrow. Personally, I’d still go to Reimer. He stole the Leafs the win on Wednesday and the numbers speak for themselves about goalies playing both games in a back-to-back.
- The Winnik-Kadri-Santorelli line is pretty awesome. They are a fancy stats machine. Not liking Lupul with Holland and Clarkson though.
- Korbinian Holzer has played pretty well since coming up. I mean, I still think he’s a bottom-pairing guy at best, but he’s done his job.
SEE YOU TOMORROW
The Leafs will look to keep the good times rolling tomorrow against the Los Angeles Kings. The game is in Toronto at 5PM Eastern on Sportsnet Ontario.
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