Leafs Postgame: Toronto Owns Texas Now

It’s a good thing that the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t in the Western Conference because I don’t think the Dallas Stars would sleep very easy. In fact, the Stars couldn’t be any happier to not see the Leafs again this season, having dropped both of their games against the blue and white.

Put that into perspective, please. The Stars are tied for second in the league. The Leafs sit second last. Toronto is responsible for half of all Dallas losses this season while Dallas accounts for two of three of Toronto’s wins. Toronto owns Dallas.

Anyways, Leafs win 3-2! Here’s the rundown…

Like they did last week against these very same Stars, the Leafs got themselves on the board first. Late in the opening frame and on the powerplay, the finally-playing Peter Holland got his stick on a Jake Gardiner point shot to pick up his second of the season. Toronto would make it to the first intermission with that one goal lead despite being outshot and outplayed. 

Dallas would come out strong again in the second period, continuing to pepper James Reimer with shot after shot. They’d finally break through on a short side marker from Patrick Sharp in the final minute of the frame, on their 28th shot of the game. Generally speaking, it’s ok to give up 28 shots against over the span of a game, so this wasn’t ideal for the Leafs.

The Stars would score again in the third, this time on an even shorter side shot from Vernon Fiddler. From the corner, Fiddler’s backhander would travel along the red line and find the smallest of holes above Reimer’s shoulder. Look.

I can’t even be mad. That’s just seeing eye floater.

Remembering that they are Starcrushers, though, Toronto would pull even again with Dallas just moments later with P.A. Parenteau’s third goal of the season, stuffing the puck past Antti Niemi after Shawn Matthias cycled the puck beautifully deep in the offensive zone and Morgan Rielly would break down the wall and behind the net, slipping the puck back out in front for the tap-in. 

And just a couple minutes later Toronto would regain the lead for the last time

Gardiner. 

Slapshot. 

Top shelf.

Goals, game-winning or otherwise, don’t get much prettier than that.

The two goals he gave up weren’t very pretty, but James Reimer put in a very solid 36-save effort this evening. He came up big when he needed to and was the biggest reason why the Leafs won tonight. But hey, shout out to Jake Gardiner too. A goal and assist ain’t nothing to sneeze at.

The Leafs continue their road trip against the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. Tune your television set to TSN4 at 8:00 pm.