Leafs Postgame: Shooting out leads to a shootout

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY SPORTS

This could’ve been a celebratory night, it really could’ve. The Battle of Ontario, on home ice, with the Leafs carrying a chip on their shoulder. From an entertainment standpoint, the game even delivered in pockets; it just didn’t give the result that was wanted. After 65 minutes and a skills competition, Toronto succumbed to a 3-2 defeat over the Ottawa Senators.

The Leafs found themselves in a bit of an odd spot in the opening parts of this game. Whistles were frequent, so they were never able to dial up the pace, and two penalties to Nikita Zaitsev left them chasing for much of the first twelve minutes of the game. They weathered that storm, but much later, Bobby Ryan opened the scoring for Ottawa with a deflection.

Ryan’s goal would be the only one on the board for a while, but Toronto eventually struck back. Similar to their last meeting, Dion Phaneuf took a penalty that worked out in Toronto’s favour, as Tyler Bozak made his way towards the net and buried his 12th of the season.

Seven minutes into the third period, the Leafs took their first lead of the game. In this case, it was our favourite likable dude Matt Martin, who got himself in front of a Nazem Kadri shot and pointed it through Mike Condon to put the odds in his team’s favour. 

Things seemed good and balanced in the universe again, and for a little while, the Leafs really lookedl ike they were going to pull off a regulation win. But Martin Marincin, back in the lineup for the first time in over a month, roofed the puck over the glass and, with 2:47 to go, the Leafs found themselves on the penalty kill.

You know how this goes. It always goes this way, Toronto’s first penalty in nearly 40 minutes led to Mike Hoffman burying his 15th, and the game heading to overtime. Nothing was solved there, so the game went to an ever so dreaded shootout. While Mitch Marner scored a beauty, he was the only one to beat Condon, and the Senators responded with goals from Bobby Ryan and Tom Pyatt. For the sixth time in seven shootouts, the Leafs left defeated.

Faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs faceoffs

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*turns off broadcast* *takes deep-breath and sips cup of hot chocolate*

I feel better now.

I don’t even know if Marner was the best player for the Leafs tonight. He was certainly one of the most eager ones. But this goal is so pretty that I just want it to have its own spot forever, and ever, and ever. Constantly repeating. Possibly teaching his teammates on the side.

With the loss, the Leafs fall to 21-14-9 on the year; still good enough for the second wildcard seed, with lots of time to catch Boston for an Atlantic Division spot. A good start would involve beating the Calgary Flames, who they face at 7:30 on Monday at the ACC.