death, taxes and the leafs overusing the drop pass on the power play
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Leafs Postgame: Brownie Points
Photo credit: Geoff Burke / USA TODAY Sports
ByĀ Hayley Hendren
Oct 17, 2017, 22:29 EDT
āThe Leafs are not playing low event hockey.ā -Ray Ferraro
1st Period
So many great chances to start the game, the Leafsā fourth line especially had some nice time in the offensive zone. š Scoring chances after 3 1/2 minutes were 6-1 Toronto, according to the broadcast. And even with a Caps PP at the end, the Leafs dominated the first period. Shots may have been even at 7, but the Leafs officially outchanced the Capitals 9-6.
2nd Period
The Capitals finished up their first period power play, and registered zero shots on goal. After the penalty kill, Babcock hit āem with the Big Three, and Matthews skated a shift with Nylander and Marner, which was beautiful to see.
This game shouldāve had way more goals, which I said to myself repeatedly throughout the entire 60 minutes. How can the two most offensively explosive teams in the NHL be 0-0 through two periods?
3rd Period
The Leafs got their own power play thanks to Alex Ovechkin, but halfway through, Bozak slashed someone, so it was over all too quickly. But not before we got to watch some wacky fun with passing.
FINALLY A GOAL! Under six minutes left in the game, but Connor Brown knows what the people want.
Downtown Connor Brown makes it 1-0 š
Holtby was pulled in the final two minutes, but the empty net didnāt help much, and the Caps looked almost as disorganized as they did in the first period. Oh, and Nazem Kadri beat Alex Ovechkin and scored an empty-netter.
That's Nifty Naz himself beating Ovechkin to score on the Caps' empty net. 2-0 Leafs, and the win!
Tweets
Toronto expects ALL the goals.
Expected goals breakdown. TOR dominated this one and Brown had an impressive game.
Hopefully Babs can find a way to keep Connor Brown in the top nine without demoting Mitch Marner, thoughā¦ With different linemates, itās almost as if his game might possibly improve.
Leafs top possession forward tonight so far: Marner. 80%
Congratulations to Frederik Andersen on his first shutout of the season!
Last season, it took 27 starts for Frederik Andersen to pick up his first shutout. This season, he does it in his sixth start.
That was the first time the Maple Leafs have ever shutout the Capitals in Washington #TMLtalk
And postgame Freddie is all of us:
Freddie Andersen on winning in Washington: āItās fun to come down here and get a little revenge.ā
The Leafs are 5-1-0, and since it was an early game, theyāre currently #1 in the league at the time of posting. Since weāre already six games in, itās probably time to start planning the parade.
See yāall tomorrow, when Auston Matthews will break his one-game point drought against Detroit, probably.
Breaking News
- Maple Leafs reportedly relieve Mark Leach, Hayley Wickenheiser, Dave Morrison of duties in front office purge
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- Report: Maple Leafs part ways with AGM Darryl Metcalf
- Craig Berube likes the Maple Leafsā moves during free agency: āThey are kind of all inā