<p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/thenationnetwork.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/d7/03/article_d7030c6f-cb7b-47d5-81c0-c6dc3d2c6f34.png?resize=600%2C355" alt="froese" width="600" height="355"  data-recalc-dims="1"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bernier&#8230;saved the first shot.</p>
<p>— The Leafs Nation (@TLNdc) <a href="https://twitter.com/TLNdc/status/678368610818072576">December 20, 2015</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p>Bernier saved the first shot&#8230; and the second shot&#8230; and the next 24 after that, too.</p>
<p>A 5-0 win against the Kings for Jonathan Bernier&#8217;s first victory of the season- just like everyone predicted.</p>
<p>Bernier (finally!) got the monkey off his back, earning his shutout of the year in impressive fashion.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>Rundown</h2>
</p>
<p>Through the opening 40 or so minutes, this game had the feeling of a 2-1 overtime loss for the Leafs, because that&#8217;d be<i> so</i> Toronto and also <i>very</i> LA. Leo Komarov&#8217;s goal 5:31 into the opening frame was the lone marker in the first two periods. </p>
<p><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020485-25-ingame-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p>While the goal ultimately proved decisive, a Michael Grabner pair in a ten-minute put the Leafs up three heading into the game&#8217;s final moments. Not to be outdone, Komarov banged home a rebound just over three minutes later, before Byron Froese saw this as good a game as any to register his first career NHL goal at the age of 24.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>Stats</h2>
</p>
<p><img src="https://i0.wp.com/thenationnetwork.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/63/cc/article_63cc04c8-42b8-4d7a-8dff-12803712621b.png?resize=600%2C328" alt="chart" width="600" height="328"  data-recalc-dims="1"></p>
<p>The Leafs didn&#8217;t exactly overpower the Kings with chances, and the game really didn&#8217;t open up until the final ten minutes or so. However, the Leafs did stick toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league for the whole contest- and were rewarded kindly for their efforts. The Leafs blocked 16 shots on the night, which definitely played a part in limiting LA&#8217;s opportunities. Bernier looked calm, cool, and collected in net, and was able to keep the contest close before the Leafs ended up running away with it.</p>
<p>Froese, Shawn Matthias, and Brad Boyes all registered over 70% Corsi despite all having 20 % offensive zone starts. That&#8217;s&#8230; weird, but the trio all had a very solid night and were noticeable throughout.</p>
<h2>Blue Warrior</h2>
</p>
<p>It&#8217;d be unfair to award anyone but Bernier this after the tough season he&#8217;s had, despite a pair of two-goal efforts from Leo Komarov and Michael Grabner, who also added a pair of assists. On any other night, the pair could probably split the honour, but Bernier&#8217;s victory overshadows the two strong efforts.</p>
<h2>Up Next</h2>
</p>
<p>The Leafs travel to Denver to take on the Avalanche Monday at 9 p.m. for their penultimate game before the holiday break.</p>

Leafs Postgame: Leafs Allowed Nice Things Sometimes

Recent articles from Adam Laskaris

Breaking News