For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs opened the final leg of their road heavy December schedule with an impressive offensive showing in a 7-4 win over the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on Thursday.
Patrick Marleau scored twice, Zach Hyman, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Connor Brown added single tallies and Frederik Andersen made 30 saves for the Leafs, who have won two games in a row on the road after losing four straight prior to the Christmas holiday break.
The Leafs jumped all over the hapless and weary Arizonians and jumped out to a lead with three goals from Hyman, Matthews and Marner in a span of 2:30, but just as quickly their advantage disappeared, as some shoddy defensive play allowed Josh Archibald and Brendan Perlini to narrow the lead to 3-2.
After killing off a lengthy 5-on-3 Coyotes power play, Toronto was able to stabilize their defensive effort and lengthen their lead to 6-2 in the second, with Marleau scoring on the power play and scoring his second of the game 10 seconds after Nylander’s breakaway tally.
Arizona got as close as 6-4 late in the third period on a Christian Fischer power play goal, but Connor Brown scored into the empty net to put the game away.
“I liked the fact that we win. I didn't think it was a high-level game.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “(Arizona) played last night and I didn't think we were even close to being what we're capable of being. We scored, but we didn't defend very well and take care of the puck. It's a good win for us and obviously it's a big road trip for us here. We've had a real grind on the road and we'd like to finish the trip off right.…
Babcock had to do some line scrambling early in the game, moving Patrick Marleau to the middle after Nazem Kadri was elbowed by Coyotes forward Lawson Crouse in the corner and left the ice. Kadri’s last shift was with 6:28 remaining in the first period, after which he went to the Leafs locker room and did not return.
Naz caught en elbow. Shaken up, no call. pic.twitter.com/yTKtOSdkfQ
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) December 29, 2017
“I don't think it was serious. We thought (Kadri) was coming right back and then (the medical staff) just decided. That's what they get paid to do.… Babcock said. The Leafs head coach indicated that the plan was for Kadri to play in Colorado on Friday, but had not conferred with the medical staff on his status.
Toronto is only carrying one extra forward in Josh Leivo after sending Kasperi Kapanen back to the AHL on Tuesday, and if Kadri is held out of the lineup against the Avalanche, it likely means Marleau will remain at center, Brown will be elevated to a higher line and Leivo will play on the fourth line with Dominic Moore and Matt Martin.
It was thought that Curtis McElhinney would get the start against the Avs (who lost 3-1 to the Coyotes on Wednesday), but former Colorado goalie Calvin Pickard has been emergency recalled due to a lower body injury to the veteran backup.
Pickard has gone 10-5-0 with a 2.20 GAA and .919 save percentage in 15 games for the Leafs AHL affiliate and is likely to get the start.
*******
World Junior update
An excellent outing for Leafs first round pick Timothy Liljegren in Sweden's 3-1 win over the Czech Republic on Thursday. The 18-year-old made an excellent stretch pass from behind his own net that resulted in Sweden's first goal and became quite involved physically in the game, dishing out big hits on fellow 2017 first rounder Martin Necas in the second period and another Czech player in the third.
Nice open ice hit by Timothy Liljegren #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/YtxY5kfEGR
— Dennis Schellenberg (@ScoutingFactory) December 28, 2017
It was not the same for Leafs goaltending prospect Joseph Woll, who surprisingly got the start for Team USA against Slovakia less than 24 hours before the outdoor game at New Era Field against Team Canada. The US may have been looking ahead to Friday's spectacle, as they did not have the same energy level that they showed in their opening win against Denmark.
Slovakia scored three times on 22 shots in a 3-2 victory and the biggest upset in the tournament thus far, but US head coach Bob Motzko did not hold his goaltender at fault for the loss.
"I know he'd like the first (goal) back, but he also made some saves on the penalty kill to keep us in (the game)." Matzko said. "We turned one over on the second (goal) and that was a backhand chip shot, he had no chance on that one, and we made two or three mistakes on the third one, but he gave us a chance to win." It is expected that Dallas first rounder Jake Oettinger will get the start for the US on Friday, while Carter Hart will make the start for Team Canada.
*******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.*******