<p style="text-align: center; "><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/thenationnetwork.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/d0/33/article_d0332c08-3d1c-4b4b-b373-174c7a128b47.jpg?resize=600%2C400" alt="C0VhefOVIAAB_oH" width="600" height="400"></p>
<p>Remember when the Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Colorado Avalanche, thoroughly outplayed them, took over 50 shots on net, and Semyon Varlamov made over 50 saves and made everybody lose their minds? Yeah, you won&#8217;t remember that for very much longer. Tonight, the blue and white made their best effort to make you forget about hot goalies, blowing big leads, and anything in between, absolutely burying the Avalanche by a 6-0 margin.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>The Rundown</h2>
<p><center> </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Auston Matthews scores his 16th goal of the season, Leafs up 1-0 <a href="https://t.co/7iFWbBmYqu">pic.twitter.com/7iFWbBmYqu</a></p>
<p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812121632772947968">December 23, 2016</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<p>We&#8217;ll keep the words short so we can relish all of this. First, Auston Matthews did amazing things once again, ripping this cannon of a wrist shot past Varlamov to make it 1-0.</p>
<p><center> </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yes, it&#8217;s a powerplay, but watching the Leafs of today control the puck is a beautiful thing sometimes: <a href="https://t.co/xKBbFjWxZ8">pic.twitter.com/xKBbFjWxZ8</a></p>
<p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812124696481320968">December 23, 2016</a>
</p></blockquote>
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<p>Then the Leafs took a bunch of penalties and things looked bad. But Toronto killed them off, and they even ended up on their own powerplay. In that powerplay, Connor Brown sealed off a sweet passing play to put the Leafs up.</p>
<p><center> </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Roman Polak looking like Brent Burns with this long bomb. 3-0 Leafs. <a href="https://t.co/OCxUw2IHyo">pic.twitter.com/OCxUw2IHyo</a></p>
<p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812126982418927616">December 23, 2016</a>
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<p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<p>Then, Roman Polak appeared to get on the scoreboard, a moment that totally escalated the game into twilight zone territory. However, Nazem Kadri did get a piece of it, so not all had gone upside down.</p>
<p><center> </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">James van Riemsdyk makes it 4-0 Leafs in the 2nd period <a href="https://t.co/cmmVksxORB">pic.twitter.com/cmmVksxORB</a></p>
<p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812136096528211968">December 23, 2016</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<p>Then James Van Riemsdyk ripped a wrister and made it 4-0.</p>
<p><center> </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Frederik Gauthier scores his first NHL goal off a sweet assist from Mitch Marner <a href="https://t.co/hcbVzEk4au">pic.twitter.com/hcbVzEk4au</a></p>
<p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812137638702514176">December 23, 2016</a>
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<p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<p>Then Frederik Gauthier made it 5-0 with his first NHL goal, signalling to the Avalanche that this game had gone to the dumpsters and to put Calvin Pickard in goal instead.</p>
<p><center> </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nazem Kadri gets his second of the game and its 6-0 Leafs. Good screen by Soshnikov, and initial shot by Marner. <a href="https://t.co/nL0OzXlaw1">pic.twitter.com/nL0OzXlaw1</a></p>
<p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812153485349240833">December 23, 2016</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<p>Nazem Kadri didn&#8217;t care.</p>
<h2>Why The Leafs Won</h2>
<p><center></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">&#8220;Daddy, this game was the worst Christmas present ever&#8221;<br />&#8220;Yeah, says you, losers&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/DheWqtkjUf">pic.twitter.com/DheWqtkjUf</a></p>
<p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812156379742031872">December 23, 2016</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<p>The Avalanche are pretty bad. The Leafs, who already score goals pretty frequently, were still kinda snakebit given how many shots they take and where they shoot them from. They were bound to burst Varlamov&#8217;s floodgates open at some point. Nothing to overthink, just a &#8220;this game was due&#8221;. Still something to take pride in, though; this is the worst defeat that Colorado has suffered at home this year, and only the Habs have done worse on the road.</p>
<h2>Blue Warrior</h2>
</p>
<p><center></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another happy Frederik as Andersen picks up his first Leafs shutout. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a> <a href="https://t.co/VqmYaBlHYj">pic.twitter.com/VqmYaBlHYj</a></p>
<p>— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/812163610738835456">December 23, 2016</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<p>Frederik Andersen didn&#8217;t really need to dominate tonight, but it was still fun to see him turn away every puck that came his way. With the way he&#8217;s played this year, he was certainly due for a night like this, even if he needed weaker shooters to give him that first push.</p>
<h2>See You Next Time</h2>
<p><center></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you realize that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheLeafsAreActuallyGood?src=hash">#TheLeafsAreActuallyGood</a> <a href="https://t.co/S5VOxWO2rh">pic.twitter.com/S5VOxWO2rh</a></p>
<p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812137040594735104">December 23, 2016</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<p>Cool thing about that win; Toronto are now third in the Atlantic in Goal Differential. Tied for third on paper, yes, but comfortably ahead of Ottawa and Boston once you realize that NHL.com counts shootout winners to the spread. The Leafs can push that envelope even further tomorrow, though, when they take on the Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Auston heads home at 9PM.</p>

<p style="text-align: center; "><img src="//thenationnetwork.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/d0/33/article_d0332c08-3d1c-4b4b-b373-174c7a128b47.jpg" alt="C0VhefOVIAAB_oH" width="600" height="400"><br></p><p>Remember when the Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Colorado Avalanche, thoroughly outplayed them, took over 50 shots on net, and Semyon Varlamov made over 50 saves and made everybody lose their minds? Yeah, you won't remember that for very much longer. Tonight, the blue and white made their best effort to make you forget about hot goalies, blowing big leads, and anything in between, absolutely burying the Avalanche by a 6-0 margin.</p><h2>The Rundown</h2><center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Auston Matthews scores his 16th goal of the season, Leafs up 1-0 <a href="https://t.co/7iFWbBmYqu">pic.twitter.com/7iFWbBmYqu</a></p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812121632772947968">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>We'll keep the words short so we can relish all of this. First, Auston Matthews did amazing things once again, ripping this cannon of a wrist shot past Varlamov to make it 1-0.</p><center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yes, it's a powerplay, but watching the Leafs of today control the puck is a beautiful thing sometimes: <a href="https://t.co/xKBbFjWxZ8">pic.twitter.com/xKBbFjWxZ8</a></p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812124696481320968">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>Then the Leafs took a bunch of penalties and things looked bad. But Toronto killed them off, and they even ended up on their own powerplay. In that powerplay, Connor Brown sealed off a sweet passing play to put the Leafs up.</p><center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Roman Polak looking like Brent Burns with this long bomb. 3-0 Leafs. <a href="https://t.co/OCxUw2IHyo">pic.twitter.com/OCxUw2IHyo</a></p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812126982418927616">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>Then, Roman Polak appeared to get on the scoreboard, a moment that totally escalated the game into twilight zone territory. However, Nazem Kadri did get a piece of it, so not all had gone upside down.</p><center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">James van Riemsdyk makes it 4-0 Leafs in the 2nd period <a href="https://t.co/cmmVksxORB">pic.twitter.com/cmmVksxORB</a></p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812136096528211968">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>Then James Van Riemsdyk ripped a wrister and made it 4-0.</p><center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Frederik Gauthier scores his first NHL goal off a sweet assist from Mitch Marner <a href="https://t.co/hcbVzEk4au">pic.twitter.com/hcbVzEk4au</a></p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812137638702514176">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>Then Frederik Gauthier made it 5-0 with his first NHL goal, signalling to the Avalanche that this game had gone to the dumpsters and to put Calvin Pickard in goal instead.</p><center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nazem Kadri gets his second of the game and its 6-0 Leafs. Good screen by Soshnikov, and initial shot by Marner. <a href="https://t.co/nL0OzXlaw1">pic.twitter.com/nL0OzXlaw1</a></p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812153485349240833">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>Nazem Kadri didn't care.</p><h2>Why The Leafs Won</h2><center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Daddy, this game was the worst Christmas present ever"<br>"Yeah, says you, losers" <a href="https://t.co/DheWqtkjUf">pic.twitter.com/DheWqtkjUf</a></p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812156379742031872">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>The Avalanche are pretty bad. The Leafs, who already score goals pretty frequently, were still kinda snakebit given how many shots they take and where they shoot them from. They were bound to burst Varlamov's floodgates open at some point. Nothing to overthink, just a "this game was due". Still something to take pride in, though; this is the worst defeat that Colorado has suffered at home this year, and only the Habs have done worse on the road.</p><h2>Blue Warrior</h2><p></p><center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another happy Frederik as Andersen picks up his first Leafs shutout. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a> <a href="https://t.co/VqmYaBlHYj">pic.twitter.com/VqmYaBlHYj</a></p>— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/812163610738835456">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>Frederik Andersen didn't really need to dominate tonight, but it was still fun to see him turn away every puck that came his way. With the way he's played this year, he was certainly due for a night like this, even if he needed weaker shooters to give him that first push.</p><h2>See You Next Time</h2><center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you realize that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheLeafsAreActuallyGood?src=hash">#TheLeafsAreActuallyGood</a> <a href="https://t.co/S5VOxWO2rh">pic.twitter.com/S5VOxWO2rh</a></p>— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/812137040594735104">December 23, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</center><p>Cool thing about that win; Toronto are now third in the Atlantic in Goal Differential. Tied for third on paper, yes, but comfortably ahead of Ottawa and Boston once you realize that NHL.com counts shootout winners to the spread. The Leafs can push that envelope even further tomorrow, though, when they take on the Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Auston heads home at 9PM.</p>

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