For the latest Leafs updates, Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter The Toronto Maple Leafs showed some sluggishness in the second of back-to-back games on the last leg of their December road trip, but still earned a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. Matt Martin and Roman Polak scored for Toronto and trailing 3-2 late in the third with goalie Calvin Pickard pulled for the extra attacker, James van Riemsdyk tied the game with his club-leading 17th goal. Pickard made 24 saves in his Leafs debut, stepping in for Curtis McElhinney after the veteran backup suffered a lower body injury during the morning skate in Arizona on Thursday. “I thought (Pickard) gave us an opportunity, so good for him.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “He didn't know he was coming out, we just flew him out here last night. He gave us a chance so that's about all you can ask for.… Toronto did not register a shot on goal until the middle of the first period, but still managed 34 shots, including 16 in the third pressing to even the score after Alex Kerfoot’s go-ahead goal. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists on the night and helped seal the Leafs fate in overtime, as he drew a questionable interference call on Connor Brown. With Toronto short-handed, JT Compher scored the winner for Colorado, ending the Leafs two-game winning streak.
In slow-mo pic.twitter.com/Gfd4Md7DbN
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) December 30, 2017