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Phil Kessel's Big Night Cools Off Streaking Anaheim Ducks

October 23, 2013, 2:42 AM ET [9 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
San Jose Sharks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Anaheim Ducks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs and appeared to be headed towards and eighth straight victory...that is until Phil Kessel took center stage.

Toronto scored the next four goals, including the fourth career hat trick for Kessel. It's his his second since coming to the Maple Leafs. He had two as a member of the Boston Bruins. Dion Phaneuf also scored for Eastern Conference leading Maple Leafs.

The loss spoiled another great start between the pipes for Jonas Hiller. He made a handful of acrobatic and unbelievable saves in the second period to hold the Leafs off the score board. But Kessel and his teammates turned up the pressure after a lifeless first 20 minutes of play. A relentless Toronto attack forced the Ducks into making game changing turnovers which resulted in several good scoring chances. Eventually the Leafs broke through on Hiller and the proverbial flood gates were open.

Jonathan Bernier stopped 23 of 25 shots to earn his fifth win of the season. The victory improved the Leafs to 7-3-0 and they will finally have their super-duper-sniper-extraordinaire David Clarkson back in the lineup. Clarkson is coming off of a 10-game suspension he picked up the preseason after he left the bench to join a fight on the ice in an effort to protect Mr. Hat Trick, Phil Kessel.
Look out Eastern Conference these Leafs are are just getting started. I actually mean that too.

The loss cooled off the streaking Ducks who had been off to a record breaking start. Tuesday nights game was the first of an eight game roadie that could determine just how good these Ducks really are.

The Ducks leave Toronto and head to Montreal for a game on Thursday night against the Canadiens. They will then face Ottawa, Columbus, Philadelphia, Boston, Buffalo and the New York Rangers before finally heading home to face the Coyotes on November 6. I would say anything less than 5-3 on this trip should be considered a failure.

Tuesday nights loss drops Anaheim's record to 7-2-0 and they remain three points behind the San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division race.
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Some numbers to chew on...

- Nick Bonino and Mathieu Perreault each picked up their fourth goals of the season; which is tied for second in goals scored for the Ducks. Both of these guys have been impressive thus far and both are playing well above expectations. How long can this keep up? Honestly without them the Ducks are not in the position they are today.

- Perreault's nine points (4g 5a) are tied for the team lead with Corey Perry (5g 4a) and Ryan Getzlaf (3g 6a). Did anybody see this coming when GM Bob Murray picked him up at the end of training camp?

- Jakob Silfverberg picked up an assist on Bones' goal. The 22-year-old now has seven points (4g 3a) in a Ducks uniform. Bobby who?

- Sami Vatanen has an assist and was a +1 in the game. Sami now has three assists and is a +2 in nine games. Just another young player making a name for himself in Anaheim.

- In case you're wondering...Hampus Lindholm leads the Ducks in plus/minus with a +9. Ditto for Hampus.

- Jonas Hiller made 19 saves in the losing effort. It's the first regulation loss of the season for Hiller.

- Prior to Tuesday night's four goals against, Hiller had only given up a total of nine goals in his five previous starts this season. His name keeps coming up in trade rumors. If Viktor Fasth misses an extended period of time and Hiller keeps playing like this, all of those rumors will quickly go away.

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Here is the entire game in six minutes thanks to Leafs and Blue Jays
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