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The Toronto Maple Leafs had difficulty with the division rival Detroit Red Wings, allowing 41 shots on goal and falling behind twice, but a third period goals from William Nylander and Nazem Kadri for a 4-3 win at Air Canada Centre on Saturday.
The victory was not only the club’s 13th straight on home ice and moves the Leafs to 97 points(eclipsing their point total from last season), but it also tied the franchise record of 45 wins in a season.
Kasperi Kapanen and Connor Brown also scored and Frederik Andersen made 38 saves for Toronto, who move to within five points of the Boston Bruins for second place in the Atlantic Division.
Nazem Kadri!
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) March 25, 2018
Insane effort by Marleau to blow past the defender and feed Kadri with the backhand sauce. 4-3 Leafs. pic.twitter.com/COyX77v3B8
Toronto may have taken the Red Wings for granted, coming off their most complete effort of the season against the NHL’s best record in Nashville. After Kapanen’s goal late in the first period, Detroit responded with a Dylan Larkin breakaway goal and deflection tally by Tyler Bertuzzi.
Brown tied the game on a deflection of a Travis Dermott point shot late in the middle frame, but the Wings again forged ahead early in the third on a Frans Nielsen goal that was initially waived off for incidental contact with Andersen, but was later reversed after Detroit appealed the goaltender interference call.
“We told our team before (Detroit) were going to make it hard on us, they were going to be above us, they were going to compete defensively and were going to make it real hard.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “I don't know if anybody believed me, but partway through the game they did and I thought (Jimmy) Howard played well in net for them.…
Babcock indicated that the fourth line of Andreas Johnsson, Tomas Plekanec and Kasperi Kapanen was the best unit for his club on the evening.
Kapanen scored his seventh goal of the season in just 32 games, Plekanec has begun to feel more comfortable as a veteran role player and faceoff specialist (winning 58% of his draws on Saturday), but has not scored a point in 10 games.
Johnsson played 13 minutes on Saturday, saw some time on both special teams, and was robbed on two occasions by Howard’s left hand. The rookie may lose his spot in the lineup once Leo Komarov comes back, but his play may be earning him a spot on the Leafs left side next season.
“(Johnsson is) quicker than I thought -- no, he's faster than I thought.… Babcock said. “I always knew he was quick when I watched him with the Marlies. I didn't know if he had speed, he does, and he's so intelligent and on the right side of the puck and he makes really good plays, got good fast-twitch. He's good on the power play, good on the penalty kill, he's a good hockey player. We're lucky to have him.…
Kanan Bozak is too adorable pic.twitter.com/TGEniq30gs
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) March 24, 2018
Tampa Bay’s 2-1 loss to New Jersey puts the playoff outlook more in doubt. The Lightning have a four point lead on the Bruins, but Boston has two games in hand and two face-to-face matches with Tampa.
The Leafs take on the Buffalo Sabres for the third time this month on Monday, but this time in the friendly confines of Air Canada Centre.
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