Last night’s game was quite a dandy, a big Leafs comeback at the Air Canada Center after falling behind 2-0 quickly in the first period.

Who’s beginning to step it up a notch? Uncle Leo, that’s who! His production seems to be increasing as the season goes on, which if I recall is the opposite from last season where he came out the gates, guns a blazin’ and then slowed down with some nagging injuries. Of course the team being in shambles last season didn’t help anyone’s production or worth as a whole.

Leo had a nice little tip at the beginning of the second period when he drove the net hard and just managed to get a piece of it, sending the puck between the goalie and the defensemen and ultimately into the back of the net where it belonged. A true warrior he is, makes me wonder if the Leafs make the playoffs, or shall I say when they make the playoffs, will Lamoriello let he and Martin grow some facial hair. We all know Leo’s output and grit is maximized when he’s got the whiskers in full force.

Another warrior with facial hair is Matt Martin, who just happened to score the second goal last night to tie things up. It was a low percentage shot from the corner and Martin just drilled it towards the net and it squeaked in. They all count, no matter how they go in; so I’ll take it and I’m sure Martin will too. When the Leafs have some secondary scoring they seem to come out on top with a couple points and some happy grinders which is key as the team moves forward with confidence.

The boys in blue must be feeling pretty confident today, rolling along with a 8-1-1 in their last ten but continuing to gain ground on the big dogs in the Eastern Conference. Toronto has 50 points now after 42 games and are playing the best hockey they have in years.

Unfortunetly Toronto’s Morgan Rielly is banged up and is considered day-to-day for the time being. He suffered a lower body injury and Jake Gardiner really stepped up his game, helping the Leafs get the win and hold off the Sabres as they pushed hard in the final minutes of the third period. It only takes one player to really step it up while Rielly is hurt, and Gardiner will be that guy. As long as each player fills a void properly the Leafs defense can all shuffle up a line and increase their minutes and hopefully continue the winning ways that seem to be a custom for this 2016/17 Maple Leafs team.
Is anyone still salivating from one of James vanRiemsdyk or Auston Matthews goals? Those were both snipe-shows! I’m still wondering how JVR tucked that puck over the shoulder of Nilsson?! Wow, that was just filthy. As for Matthews’ goal, it was again the hard work of Zach Hyman getting the puck on the stick of the Leafs go-to in Matthews who made absolutely no mistake burying his 22nd with a beauty top corner snipe.

I for one will never get tired of Auston Matthews scoring goals in the blue and white!

Toronto will prepare for two rematches from last week as they will host the Rangers tomorrow night and the Senators on Saturday. These are two huge games for the Leafs as they just played both opponents last week, so cashing in more points against Eastern Conference teams is nothing but icing on the cake.

Will the Rangers dare put Lundvqist back in net? He’s quite rattled these days it seems! Leafs need to kick the Rangers while they are down, not with a skate but with the score.

With five games in hand on the Bruins and having the same points as the Senators who sit in the final wildcard spot, things are continuing to trend upwards for the Maple Leafs.

Thanks for reading, have yourself a good evening.

Go Leafs Go!

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