Postgame: Hopping back on track

Be honest, you were a little nervous of the worst tonight.

Heading into the matchup with a four-game losing streak against the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions? Expect the best, fear the worst.

To tell the truth, it wasn’t the prettiest effort, but hey, you take em when you can get em.

The shots weren’t always coming, but the goals were, and hey, isn’t that all you can ask for sometimes?

Just uh, ignore that one stretch to start the second. Also maybe that stretch to start the first.

Maybe that stretch in the third.

But hey, they had a few great bursts, and they managed to out-Penguin the Penguins. A win’s a win.

The Leafs came out, well, flat. Pittsburgh came up 6-0 on the shot totals to start the game but…

cue Kasperi Kapanen, former Pittsburgh Penguins prospect.

Cute passing play, boys.

A 1-0 lead heading into the first period looks nice, but you know what’s nice? A 2-0 lead, courtesy of Nazem Kadri with 47 seconds left in the first.

Hey, remember Nazem Kadri? After taking the game’s first three penalties, the Leafs finally got a power play opportunity and made the most of it:

A few minutes later, Roman Polak pulled one of his best plays of the night: getting called for coincidental minors alongside… Evgeni Malkin? Fair trade, we guess.

A little over a minute after that, Brian Dumoulin pulled a rarity: scoring a goal, getting it called back… and getting a penalty for hitting Frederik Andersen in the head.

Seven seconds later:

Well, that’s quite the sequence!

What do you think the atmosphere is like in the dressing room in the intermission of two teams in a four-goal game that are both going to the playoffs? Lots of words in that sentence, but you have to assume the sense of urgency’s jussssssst a little low.

Sidney Crosby scores!

But they’ll be fine, right?

Pittsburgh pulled DeSmith then with a little under four minutes remaining.

Patric Hornqvist scores with 2:38 remaining! Could the Leafs really blow this one?

Thankfully, Patrick Marleau had the presence of mind to hit the empty net and restore the Leafs three-goal lead.

Curtains.

Hey, would you look at that?

See you…Wednesday as the Leafs take on the Stars.