Leafs Postgame: Our Kind of Farewell

The Toronto Maple Leafs played their last game at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena tonight, and they did so in style. While they made fans bite their nails a few times, the Blue and White held it together and completed their season series sweep with a 5-4 win over the Red Wings.

The humble beginnings of this game saw Toronto chasing the puck far more than they should, and often not looking incredibly organized. There was a feeling that it would come back to bite them. For a moment, it did, as Gustav Nyquist put the Wings up 1-0 with five minutes remaining in the opening frame.

But the Leafs didn’t curl up and admit defeat. Instead, they sent the big three out. Suddenly…

1-1.

2-1.

3-1. One by one, in sequence, thirteen minutes from start to finish. Now, it wasn’t just a constant string of happy from there; Nick Jensen closed the gap back up a minute and a half after Nylander’s handiwork.

Of course, the Red Wings pushed back late in the third period, to create massive panic. Toronto went into it’s typical “we’re not doing it, we swear” shell in the final minutes, and Niklas Kronwall capitalized by finishing off a great play orchestrated by Nyquist and Henrik Zetterberg to tie the game.

The good thing is that the Leafs didn’t curl up and admit defeat from there. James Van Riemsdyk responded three minutes later by putting Toronto back in the lead, and Matthews added insurance a minute later. While Mike Green restarted the sense of fear with 45 seconds to go with his 14th goal of the season, the Leafs were able to hold on just enough to secure the victory.

Extending the rookie goal record. Typing the rookie point record. Most goals by any Leaf in the last 15 years. The most obvious gem in an already bright shining mine. Auston Matthews, what else is left to say?

With the win, the Leafs jump to second (!!) in the Atlantic Division, leading the Senators via ROW tiebreaker despite them both having 91 points. An overtime loss for Tampa Bay leaves them five points back of the Leafs, while the Islanders, Canes, and Flyers remain seven back. Things are looking pretty, pretty good right now.

We’ll see you again Monday at 7:00 PM, when the Leafs take on the Buffalo Sabres.