Bogosian out a month; Leafs move one step closer with win over Winnipeg (maple leafs)

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Bogosian out a month; Leafs move one step closer with win over Winnipeg

By Mike Augello

Apr 23, 2021 • 4:22 pm

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UPDATE - Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports that defenseman Zach Bogosian will be out a minimum of four weeks with a shoulder injury after leaving Tuesday's loss to the Vancouver Canucks. That time frame would put him in line to possibly return at some point during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

******* The Toronto Maple Leafs brought their “A… game when it mattered the most, as the top line of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and new addition Nick Foligno combined for seven points in a 5-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Centre on Thursday.

Mitch Marner scored twice, Jason Spezza, Wayne Simmonds and Auston Matthews added singles, and Jack Campbell bounced back with 34 saves to snap the club’s five-game losing skid and move Toronto six points ahead of the Jets for top spot in the North Division.

“I thought we got a good game from all four lines, if we're really talking about it. I thought not our best game, we didn't spend nearly enough time in the offensive zone, but I thought we got good efforts and good plays by all of our lines.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “But yeah, I thought Auston, Mitch and Nick, that line obviously produced for us here today.…

Matthews opened the scoring 27 seconds into the game with his league-leading 34th goal of the season, Marner tallied the eventual game-winner in the middle frame on a one-timer and added his second late in regulation into an empty net on an unselfish play by Foligno.

“All night he was hunting the puck. It looked like he didn’t really come off a seven-day quarantine, so I thought he did a really good job.… Marner said of his new linemate. “Down low, he was opening up a lot of space for me and [Matthews]. At the end there, it’s a just play by him to curl up and find me. I think we’re happy with our night.…

Toronto got contributions throughout their lineup, as team captain John Tavares setup third liner Simmonds for a second early goal to increase the lead to 2-0, and the fourth line of Adam Brooks, Joe Thornton and Spezza combined on the goal that put the Leafs back in the lead at the 11:59 mark of the first and chased Winnipeg starter Connor Hellebuyck.

“The goal (at) the deadline is to add another player to our group, but now you're playing without Mikheyev and Hyman here tonight, and you need other guys to step up. I thought we got good efforts all throughout the lineup.… Keefe said. “Those types of things are very positive and help you win games.…

If the Leafs can win again in Winnipeg on Saturday, they could move to an nearly insurmountable eight point lead over the Jets with eight games to play.

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