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The Toronto Maple Leafs still appeared rusty in their second game after returning from the COVID / Christmas pause, but still prevailed 4-2 over the Connor McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
Ilya Mikheyev’s third period power play goal proved to be the game-winner. John Tavares, TJ Brodie, and Alex Kerfoot also scored, and Jack Campbell made 29 saves for Toronto in their third straight victory.
The Leafs struggled with a motivated but short-handed Oilers squad, as Brendan Perlini and Leon Draisaitl responded to Tavares’ opening goal in the first. Brodie tied the score late in the period with a goal in his third straight game.
After a scoreless middle frame, Mikheyev gave Toronto the lead with his third goal and second power play marker in the last two games with a wrist shot that beat the glove hand of Edmonton goalie Mike Smith, and Kerfoot iced the game with an empty-netter.
“(Ilya) makes us a better team, there’s no question about that. That’s not just because he’s scored. We’ve know that as long as (Mikheyev)’s been with us. He makes us a deeper team. I thought he had a great camp, a great preseason. He was taking advantage of any of the additional opportunities that we were giving him.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “I don’t think it could have worked out any better in terms of him getting the production here early to get him a boost after such a long layoff.…
With the win, Toronto keeps pace with Tampa Bay and Florida in the Atlantic. The Leafs trail the Lightning by three points with three games in hand, and the Panthers by two points with one game in hand.
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On the heels of the NHL flip-flopping home games between the Leafs and New York Islanders on Tuesday, the league announced that because of the current attendance restrictions in Ontario, the Leafs home game against New Jersey on January 17 has been postponed and will be rescheduled “when such restrictions may be eased or lifted.…
Toronto now has eight games remaining in January and seven of them are on the road. The Leafs embark on a six-game road trip starting Saturday in Colorado, followed by contests against Vegas, Arizona, St. Louis, the NY Rangers and NY Islanders. The only remaining game at home is against the Anaheim Ducks on January 26th, but it remains possible that game could be rescheduled.
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Lot’s of â¤ï¸ for the 💙ðŸ¤
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2021
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