|
Leafs learning 60-minute lesson, win impressively in Nashville |
|
|
|
|
|
For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter
In spite of all the impressive things the Toronto Maple Leafs have done over the last two seasons, putting together a 60-minute effort has been something that has proven to be elusive. The young club has relied on their impressive offensive talent or stellar goaltending from Frederik Andersen to carry them through frequent instances when they are unable to play responsible defensively or maintain control of the game.
In their 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday, Toronto not only put forth a complete effort, they did it against the club with the NHL’s best record, a 15-game point streak who had not lost at home in over a month.
Toronto dominated the first 20 minutes, outshooting the Preds 13-4 and taking the lead on James van Riemsdyk’s 34th goal of the season on the power play. Nashville responded with a power play marker of their own from Viktor Arvidsson early in the second, but the Leafs responded late in the middle frame with goals from Auston Matthews and William Nylander 1:38 apart.
“It looked a lot like the Tampa game early, (but) you've got to go out and you’ve got to play well in the third period and finish the game off.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “(We) had a really good start for the third period, which really helped us. We played five of six really good periods on this road trip, (but) we dropped the ball the other night in Tampa. (Tonight was) a good response.”
Unlike their passive response when the Lightning pressed them in the third on Tuesday, the Leafs jumped on the Predators just nine seconds into the final stanza on Mitch Marner’s 20th goal of the season and increased their lead to 5-1 minutes later on a Jake Gardiner tally.
More importantly, Toronto did not sit back and allow Nashville to attack leading by four goals, they continued to skate with the Predators and prevent them from building any momentum or allow the fans at Bridgestone Arena from getting back into the game.
Babcock did not ease Matthews back into the lineup, as the 20-year-old played 15:18 in his first game in a month. Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev however did not get his usual workload after missing just over two weeks with the flu.
The blueliner saw just under 20 minutes on the night, with veteran Roman Polak picking up the slack on the right side, playing for 21:24 (second only to Gardiner).
The Leafs return home to begin a three-game homestand on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»