Leafs postgame: Vegas? Stripped.

Earlier today, everyone freaked out because of Auston Matthews’ seven minute morning skate, because Toronto and hockey.  So, there’s that. But he ended up playing, and doing a decent job of it as well.

The Leafs came out firing in the first period, taking a 3-1 lead…. and ended up winning 4-3 with one shootout goal by Mitch Marner. Let’s take a look at one of the most up-and-down games of the season so far.

Nazem Kadri got the scoring started 4:14 into the game off a bouncing puck in front of the net… and 38 seconds later it was 1-1. In an “UGH” moment, the Leafs, well, looked like they were in for a long night against the NHL’s most damn confusing team. But then things began to open up a little bit, and Auston Matthews pulls off a move straight out of a damn video game.

James van Riemsdyk gets credit for it because he bangs it home (who’s picking up the trash, tonight, folks?) and it’s the Leafs’ second lead of the night.

With just under five minutes to go in the period, some strong board play from Father Marleau keeps the puck in the zone… and then another spinning effort results in a Leafs goal.

In soccer, this is what they’d call a cheeky goal. A happy accident, maybe? Regardless, the Leafs went into the intermission up 3-1.

Well, the Leafs were on pace for a 9-3 win entering the period. In the last 14:57 of the second, they managed a grand total of four shot attempts. Four.

That pretty much tells you all you need to know.

A too many men call, a confusing goalie interference call on Zach Hyman (looks like he was pushed) and then Auston Matthews’ first penalty of the year (blame the pre-game soreness), and the Leafs were killing penalties for a fair amount of time this period.

Mimico native Reilly Smith found the back of the net late on the power play, and it was a one-goal game going into the third.

Frederik Andersen, man.

He made a bunch of key stops in this one, including a point-blank shot with about 80 seconds left that would have sent the two points in Vegas’ favour.

But also, he uh, let in this with six minutes to go and uh…

…that’s why we went to OT in the first place.

Overtime was nutso, to say the least.

If you ain’t first, you’re last. Or sometimes, you go first, and no one else scores. The only goal of the shootout, and maybe a slump-buster from Mitch Marner?

In his first competitive shootout attempt since that infamous world championship gold-medal game, Marner comes through and the Leafs are in the winning column again.

Speechless.

This, from our golden alum Dom:

And then this gem* from Vegas

*not a gem.

Not the greatest game, but two points either way. See you Wednesday against the Wild.