Kasperi Kapanen! Great pass by Bozak through the legs of Athanasiou. 1-0 Leafs.
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Postgame: Lucky Number 13
Mar 24, 2018, 22:05 EDT
The best part about regular season hockey is the games down the stretch that mean so much to all of the teams fighting for their playoffs lives.
So, prepare for this big Saturday matchup between the team that is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs vs. the team that has all but mathematically clinched a playoff spot.
First Period
Well, I missed most of the first period because I was busy winning awards and such, but I did manage to get back in time for this:
Tyler Bozak with a great pass in tight, and Kasperi Kapanen taking advantage of the wide open space to bury the game’s opening goal.
The Leafs had another “goal” reviewed later on, but the puck never crossed the line, so it remains 1-0.
Second Period
After a strong first, the Leafs fell off the rails a little bit to start the period, as the Red Wings got two goals from Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi, as well as a penalty shot after an un-good play from the Rielly-Hainsey pairing.
But have no fear, Mr. Downtown is here, as Connor Brown tips home a Travis Dermott shot to tie the game at 2-2, and also score his first goal in more than a month.
Connor Brown! Deflects Dermott's point shot right past Howard. 2-2.
Third Period
The Red Wings scored again early on in the third, and it was reviewed for goalie interference, and honestly, I have no idea why. But I also wasn’t listening to the broadcast and was instead listening to music.
Not like it matters, as Nylander and Matthews did the hockey equivalent of stealing a kid’s brand new basketball in the school yard, playing Harlem Globetrotter’s style keep away with the kid, and then dunking on him to tie the game again.
AUSTON AND WILLIAM FOREVER
And with the period winding down, Marleau and Kadri connect on a 2-on-1 to give the Leafs the lead with only seven minutes left.
Nazem Kadri! Insane effort by Marleau to blow past the defender and feed Kadri with the backhand sauce. 4-3 Leafs.
Aside from ONE REALLY CLOSE SCARE
The Leafs basically shut it down and secured the 4-3 win.
The Good Twitter Content
Dr. Aglikepull with some comments on the Nyquist breakaway in the first.
Our boy Ian sharing his love for the Rielly-Dermott pairing cameo (that assisted on the 2-2 goal, btw)
Honestly, just make this the first pairing.
Rielly-Dermott 😍
The original Swedish Leaf having a jolly old time
Börje Salming loving his dancing doppelgänger
And let’s finish this by making fun of the Sens, because it’s fun to. Just read this whole thread.
Oh, and this
With tonight’s win, the @MapleLeafs have tied single-season franchise records for wins (45) and home wins (26). #TMLtalk
Up next, the Leafs play their third home game against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. So, another easy win.
Also, the magic number is five points.
Breaking News
- Forget Claude Giroux—The Leafs should target Patrick Kane: Leafs Morning Take
- Maple Leafs hire Daniel Alfredsson as associate head coach, John Gruden and Brad Werenka as assistants
- Jim Hiller tasked with balancing Maple Leafs’ versatility and lineup chemistry
- How the need for speed informed the Maple Leafs’ free agency class
- Maple Leafs don’t have cap space but have flexibility