Leafs Comeback Only Adds to Cathartic Conclusion (Jets Maple Leafs)

Jets Maple Leafs

Leafs Comeback Only Adds to Cathartic Conclusion

By Wesley Peters

Jan 8, 2020 • 11:25 pm

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The Set Up

With Jansen Harkins back in action and Sami Niku kept in, the Jets had five players on tonight’s roster from the 2015 draft. The other three being Kyle Connor, Jack Roslovic and Mason Appleton. When adding up all of the players in the Jets lineup Wednesday night, a whopping 14 of them were drafted by Winnipeg. Talk about homegrown.

In comparison the Maple Leafs dressed nine of their own. One of those being 1st overall pick in 2016 Auston Matthews, who came into the game on a six-game goal streak. We also witnessed the two busiest goalies in the league in regards to shots faced, not just this year but also over the last three.

1st Period

The rematch between these two teams began a bit tepid but heated up gradually until boiling. Still, just four minutes in we had our first goal when Wheeler chipped a puck in that Frederik Andersen chased. Unfortunately for him, he would trip over himself while the puck rang around the boards where Ehlers was waiting to fire it into an open net from a very difficult angle. Oh Andersen, the shame.

The Leafs then, working the powerplay, had the puck poked away at the blue line by Connor and while they were able to retrieve it, it was for only a second, as Appleton proceeded to steal it back and go in alone, sending a well-timed wrister five-hole on Andersen.

2nd Period

The second period started a lot quicker with Spezza sending Matthews in alone but it appeared he didn’t get everything on his shot, and what he did get, Hellebuyck had no trouble with. The fourth line, who looked rather good in this one, put on some pressure and Harkins just about got his first NHL goal. If not for the back of Marincin’s leg, I think he snaps that one by Andersen, who appeared to have lost the puck.

As an ineffectual Jets powerplay ended, Copp tried to send a puck to the middle from behind the net. Sadly, the disc would slip past everyone and send the Leafs in on a 3 on 1. Hellebuyck made the first two stops, but the garbage would finally get cleaned up by Dmytro Timashov. Not pretty.

The Jets would play almost a picture perfect third period, killing a penalty, getting pucks deep and even outshooting the trailing Leafs. The first was Laine’s as he took a nifty chip pass from Scheifele at the line and walk in with a hard wrist shot. Scheifele really has a knack for entering the oppositions zone with control, whether it’s with his own dekes or a little shovel pass, the guy rocks that important skill.

Wheeler would also get robbed when he fired a shot from the slot after Ehlers circled behind the net and found him. The Leafs were not without their chances though, with Matthews between the legs shot off the rush being my favorite. Is this move becoming almost commonplace for the skilled guys of the league? Sure seems that way, and that’s a good thing.

If only Connor could have iced the game on his backhand attempt at the empty net, we wouldn’t have had to suffer through some of the most excruciatingly entertaining hockey of the season. But alas, with 14 seconds remaining in the game Matthews would add his second of the night after Lowry bobbled the puck off the draw, sending it to Reilly who slid it over to Matthews for the one-timer. Hellebuyck should have had that one but seriously, who cares after what would happen next?

Overtime was absolute mayhem with the Jets would getting the better chances. Including a Scheifele breakaway in which he tried to go between the legs, only to be shut down by the man they call Freddie. That five-hole, can it be penetrated? Well, wait and see folks.

The real Mona Lisa for Freddie was the totally bonkers save off Kyle Connor, receiving the one-timer pass on a 2 on 0, that required lightning quick reaction time and almost doing the splits. As I mentioned before, this is your team’s MVP Leafs fans.

OT would solve nothing, except how to be thoroughly entertained and poop your pants. So, off to the shootout we went.

Shootout

Spezza would get a quick shot past Helle and Matthews too with a nifty deke, but they were matched by Laine’s insane heavy wrister from quite a distance that I’m not even sure Andersen reacted to, and Scheifele doubling down on that five-hole move. After Helle stopped Nylander, Wheeler, having taken very careful notes no doubt, slipped one in between Andersen’s legs and tipped the helmet to signify the victory. Holy crap! If I wasn’t so sick right now, and desperate to go to sleep, I’m not sure I could have been so thrilled with a midseason cross conference game. I’m sure these guys could though.

I’m going to bed. See ya tomorrow!

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