Leafs Postgame: Leafs Win, Keep Hold of WildCard Spot
By Katy Tearle
7 years agoWith 17 (now 16) games left in the season, the Leafs are holding precariously to the final WildCard spot in the East. If they win 8 of 10 points in the next 5 games, they will definitively hold that coveted spot. These are the numbers we’re throwing around, folks. How many points and wins the Leafs need to keep a playoff berth. Isn’t it fun?
THE RUNDOWN
- Starting in goal for the Leafs is Frederik Andersen. Starting in goal for the Flyers is Michal Neuvirth.
- Leaf’s Mitch Marner takes a tripping penalty against Michael Del Zotto at 5:30. Leafs on the penalty kill.
- Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds puts the Flyers on the board with a power play goal, traffic in front and the assist from Shayne Gostisbehere. 1-0 Flyers.
- James van Riemsdyk blocks a shot, limps back to the bench, but is okay for his next shift.
- Radko Gudas takes an interference penalty against Zach Hyman at 12:31. Leafs on the powerplay.
- William Nylander ties it up with a tight angled shot, assisted by Jake Gardiner and Connor Brown. 1-1 tied game.
- With the tying goal, Nylander has now tied the franchise record for most power play goals in a rookie season at 9.
- Early in the second period, both teams making defensive zone errors, relying on the goaltenders to bail them out.
- At 9:28 into the second, Tyler Bozak scores an unassisted goal to put the Leafs in the lead. 2-1 Leafs.
- An uneventful second period ended with the Leafs still up, 2-1.
- Both teams with some good chances to open the third period, but none solid enough to hit the back of the net.
- Nikita Zaitsev takes an interference penalty against Claude Giroux at 9:53 in the third. Leafs on the penalty kill.
- Brayden Schenn takes a tripping penalty against Nikita Soshnikov at 13:35 in the third. Leafs on the powerplay.
- Marner with a beautiful shot, puts it behind Neuvirth. Assists from Rielly and Bozak. 3-1 Leafs.
- Connor Brown takes a tripping penalty against Brandon Manning at 14:20 in the third. Leafs on the penalty kill.
- Gostisbehere scores with a slapshot from the point. Assists from Valtteri Filppula and Jakub Voracek. 3-2 Leafs.
- Neuvirth is pulled with a little over 2 minutes left for the extra attacker.
- Nazem Kadri scores an unassisted, empty-net goal with 1 minute left in the third. 4-2 Leafs.
BLUE WARRIOR
Blue Warrior is a tough one tonight. Does it go to Freddy, who made some absolutely stunning saves and flashed the leather more than once? Does it go to Connor Brown, and all his solid chances? Does it go to William Nylander and his stunning goal? Does it go to Mitch Marner and his stunning goal?
The answer is: D) None of the above.
Today’s game was a good one in that the Leafs came away with a solid regulation win. When they were in the offensive zone, the connection between the rookies was remarkable, and consequently seemed to pick the veterans up a little too. But the defence still needs to step it up. The Simmonds goal is a good example. Nobody covered Wayne Simmonds for around 15 seconds, long enough for him to make 2 sweeps in front of the crease, and eventually bang in a goal.
However.
They played well tonight. They came away with the win. The goals were beautiful. William Nylander tied a franchise record. I could go on. But for efficiency’s sake, I’ll only post the video of William Nylander’s stunning goal, because damn, WillNy, damn. With this tough angled shot, Nylander nets his 18th of the year, and his 9th powerplay goal.
COMING UP NEXT
With the Leafs playing their final 16 games of the season in the next 34 days, there is going to be no shortage of games coming up. Next in the lineup is Saturday, March 11th. Leafs will face the Carolina Hurricanes, in Carolina. Puck drops at 7pm.
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