Postgame: Blackhawks? Downed.
6 years ago
So this was a little more of a nail-biter than the last two. And by a little, I mean the Leafs were down 2-0, and 3-1, and then came back and won it in overtime. But, as predicted, it was definitely fun to watch. Fluky bounces aside, I am really feeling this team.
3 games, 3 wins.
Looking at the last half, especially, the Leafs absolutely deserved this win.
1st Period
In the battle of the 15-goal 2-0 teams, only Chicago kept their momentum going from their first two games of the season… the Leafs not so much, at least not in the first period.
First, Jan Rutta’s shot went in off Marner’s stick, and I think he probably needed a hug after that one. The Blackhawks’ second goal was kind of fluky, too, when Jonathan Toews tucked a rebound behind a stick-less Frederik Andersen.
2nd Period
There were so many penalties this period. At least, that’s how it felt on Twitter.
And then the Leafs finally got one past Forsberg! Nikita Zaitsev snuck up for a dish from Connor Brown and then it was 2-1 (still Chicago, for now).
We saw some good action from Gardiner and Nylander, which is always a treat, but nothing else materialized, for either team.
3rd Period
Andreas Borgman reminded us he was in the game when he went to the box for a questionable hit on Alex DeBrincat, which resulted in a Blackhawks PPG. Richard Panik was the beneficiary of yet another lucky bounce, and then it was starting to look a little scary at 3-1.
But never fear! Downtown Connor Brown is here! He got the Leafs back within one, and it was a great reminder of how he is basically wasted on the fourth line. But that’s not the point, because he scored.
And then Tyler Bozak banked one in off JVR on the power play and suddenly we were tied at 3, which is a perfectly respectable hockey score. Even if I was hoping for 15-14 Leafs, just a little bit.
Overtime
Literally nothing about this OT matters except Auston Matthews. Not only did he score the OT winner, but it was a beauty. And then not only was it a beauty, but his celly afterward was designed specifically for this exact situation. See for yourself:
Beautiful. What a dude. Hit ’em with the OT winner.
Tweets
This is definitely true. Then again, we might be biased.
With Connor Brown grabbing a goal and an assist, and Calle Rosen with an assist on the Zaitsev goal, one name is conspicuously absent from the scoresheet, three games in…
Also, I’m not sure if the Leafs saw this tweet, but the win would suggest that maybe someone shouted it to them during intermission:
Raise your hand if you’re even more on board the Auston Matthews train, three games into his sophomore season.
And I’m not the only one who’s ready to see Connor Brown back in the top nine…
See you Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at the ACC.
Recent articles from Hayley Hendren
