The Toronto Maple Leafs opened tonight in honor of Börje Salming. One of the greatest Maple Leafs of all time, honored with a statue on Legends Row, the first Swedish player named to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and his number 21 is retired by the Maple Leafs.
In his honor, the Maple Leafs started an all-Swedish starting lineup.
William Nylander – Pierre Engvall – Calle Järnkrok Rasmus Sandin – Timothy LIljegren Erik Källgren
The Leafs lost 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, but they showed up early in this game, no wonder they’re 2-0-1 in back-to-back games this season . Targeting the Canucks in their own ends for the first 2:30 before Vancouver iced the puck. trying Spencer Martin early and often.
The Canucks get to the Leafs end, and after a faceoff at the side of the net they are able to set up and Bo Horvat scores the first of the game.
Vancouver 1-0.
The Maple Leafs don’t give up, but give the Canucks some ice after this goal as Vancouver has the energy to keep scoring. Denis Malgin comes in alone for the Leafs, but makes an easy save on Martin’s pads.
Malgin does it again, coming in with friends this time but he can’t shoot until he’s behind the net, so clearly that doesn’t work. John Tavares drives into the Canucks’ end, but Luke Schenn clears the puck. The Canucks defense is doing a very good job of keeping the Leafs from getting a few quality chances tonight.
Michel Bunting is called for interference after tripping JT Miller without the puck. Leaves had been thrown on the floor on the tables before, but sure. say this Miller took the penalty and scored the power play goal 20 seconds in as the Canucks had plenty of room to set up the play.
Vancouver 2-0 halfway through the first.
John Tavares and Alex Kerfoot start to get things going for the Leafs again, with both going through the Canucks zone, but shooting high prevents Tavares from getting his 400th goal.
The Maple Leafs have their first power play opportunity with just over two minutes left in the period when Nils Aman is called for holding. The power play isn’t going as well as the Leafs hoped with Bo Horvat about to get his second of the game by taking advantage of some goofs.
No Leafs goal, and the second ends with a 2-0 lead for the Canucks.
Early in the second Quinn Hughes is called for hooking Auston Matthews, and Matthews takes it personally as he scores on the ensuing powerplay, cutting the Canucks’ lead in half.
2-1 Vancouver.
We have a back and forth game, another missed opportunity for John Tavares over the next five minutes. Nothing huge, nothing noteworthy other than a good defensive play by Matthews.
Then we get to a Canucks net scramble as Spencer Martin is scrambling without a stick, and the Leafs move quickly to capitalize on the opportunity, and just when it looks like a goal isn’t going to happen, Pierre Engvall scores to tie the game.
The game is tied halfway through the second.
William Nylander and Auston Matthews combine to nearly take the lead, but don’t when Martin gets the score. The Canucks can’t clear and Jordie Benn, in his first game as a Maple Leaf, scores to give the Leafs the lead.
3-2 Maple Leafs.
It’s almost 4-2 as the Leafs really start to push the lead and test Spencer Martin.
The Canucks make an effort, but Erik Källgren and the defense keep the Canucks away from the net, and most of the time remaining in the second is spent with the Leafs moving the puck. Until they tangle in their own end with five minutes to go. Ekman-Larsson, Connor Garland have chances and tests the Leafs goalkeeper, but it goes wide.
The Canucks took a late penalty, prompting Jordie Benn to call interference. Less than 90 seconds left in the second period. The Canucks are getting space in the Leafs end, but no good opportunities. The period ends with about 30 seconds left on the power play for the Canucks, and the Leafs hold the lead. Toronto 3-2 after 40.
The third period opens with the Leafs killing that penalty, but then Timothy Liljegren takes one for a puck over the glass, and we have about three minutes of power play for the Canucks. Luckily there is no target.
Now, I’m not saying the Leafs with Phil Kessels’ 400th goal being denied drove the Hockey Gods crazy, but John Tavares is having a hard time getting his 400th goal.
The Leafs are all working hard to get a safety goal on the board, but nothing has gotten past Spencer Martin so far tonight.
The Canucks have another chance to tie the game on a power-play goal, but they fumble the opportunity. They’re all in, pushing hard for a tie, making Erik Källgren work double time to hold on to the lead.
With two minutes left, the Canucks pulled Martin for the extra forward, and they play some safe hockey to keep the Leafs from scoring on an empty net. Brock Boeser almost gets it, but denies it. Leafs feel the pressure, can’t clear their zone.
3-2
They take the puck out with ten seconds to go and get the win with a score of 3-2. A great second period did the trick for them, with Jordie Benn winning the game in his Leafs debut.
Again, it wasn’t a dominant performance, it wasn’t what we expect from this team, but they got the win. I hate being “well, they won and that’s what matters” because how they win should also matter.
The Leafs play the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.