For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their three-game losing skid with a 3-2 shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks at Air Canada Centre, thanks in part to the re-emergence of Nazem Kadri as an aggravating presence.
Kadri dropped the gloves with Sharks center Joe Thornton two seconds into the game, yanking out a clump of the veteran’s beard.
The Leafs center, who did not score in December and missed two games with a concussion, snapped a 12-game pointless streak with a second period power play goal.
Kadri literally drops a handful of Thornton's beard on the ice after the fight. Ew. pic.twitter.com/Ncgprzax0G
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) January 5, 2018
“One thing (just) led to another and not by any means did I really expect that, but things happen.… Kadri said following the game. “I have no idea (how I got ahold of Thornton’s beard), I ended up with a piece of it in my hand. I have no idea how that happened. I thought I was a hockey player and not a barber.…
Auston Matthews scored for Toronto, taking the scoring lead away from James van Riemsdyk with his 18th goal of the season and converting in the shootout.
Frederik Andersen had another strong outing for the Leafs with 33 saves and allowing only Kevin Lebanc to beat him in the shootout, but did not help his cause with a mishandling of the puck that led to Chris Tierney’s tying goal in the second period.
“It's a good thing that (Andersen) was able (bounce back after that mistake). Obviously, there's no sense getting rattled over that.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “You made a mistake – he didn't mean to pass to them and shoot it in the net. We just scored to go ahead, it's supposed to be 2-1 going into the third and he made that mistake. I thought he did a good job and I thought he did a real good job in the shootout as well.…
*******
The Maple Leafs have called up defenseman Travis Dermott from the Toronto Marlies and sent Martin Marincin back to the club’s AHL affiliate.
The 21-year-old blueliner was selected as an AHL All-Star this week and has 17 points(2 goals, 15 assists) in 26 games with the Marlies. Dermott was injured when Nikita Zaitsev went down with a broken foot, which necessitated the recall of Marincin, but upon returning, the 2015 second rounder registered six assists in two Toronto wins over Belleville and Laval.
Using speed and strength to create space, @Travis_Dermott scored his first of the season.#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/sQht35O0xY
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) December 2, 2017
It is likely that Dermott will make his NHL debut against the Vancouver Canucks at Air Canada Centre on Saturday, since they would not call up a young prospect just to sit him in the press box.
Defenseman Roman Polak took a shot off the face in the first period on Thursday but only missed a shift before returning.
*******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.*******