It was a Saturday double-header for the Toronto and Montreal organizations, as the parent Maple Leafs and Habs battled at the Bell Centre and the AHL affiliate Marlies and Ice Caps rumbled at Ricoh Coliseum. The venues were different, but the results were the same as both Bleu, Blanc et Rouge squads were victorious over the Blue and White by the score of 2-1.
Paul Byron scored in the first and Alex Galchenyuk’s power play goal 32 seconds into the middle frame provided all the offense that Carey Price would need, as the former Hart Trophy winner notched his 11th victory of the season.
William Nylander responded on the man advantage in the second with his sixth goal of the season, but Price withstood a concerted attack late in the game, stopping 11 third period shots for the win.
Some sweet passing leads to a Nylander goal. Komarov and Matthews with the assists. #refcam pic.twitter.com/OXRviOkgVF
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 20, 2016
It was a physical contest between the two Atlantic Division rivals, as Shea Weber labeled Leafs rookie William Nylander with a pair of heavy checks and Matt Martin slammed Montreal’s Nathan Beaulieu into the boards, but a hit on James van Reimsdyk by Habs defenseman Alexei Emelin may get a look from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, as the Leafs forward was hit from behind and crumpled to the ice.
Speaking of ugly.
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 20, 2016
Emelin on JvR pic.twitter.com/SLM8D5iBZv
The loss continues the Leafs troubles away from Air Canada Center, as they have only one win in nine road games and have scored two or less goals in five straight road games.
At home, Toronto averages over four goals-per-game (37 goals in nine games) and has a 7-2-0 record.
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The Marlies returned home after going 3-2-1 on a six-game road trip and lost a 2-1 decision to the St. Johns Ice Caps at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday. The defeat was the first for Toronto at home after going 5-0 to start the season.
Kasperi Kapanen scored his club-leading eighth goal on the power play in the first, but veteran netminder Yann Danis slammed the door after that, stopping 26 shots and earning first star honors.
Took a video review to conclude it, but Kasperi Kapanen put the Marlies up 1-0 with this powerplay goal: pic.twitter.com/kpPz1OCMVj
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) November 19, 2016
The Ice Caps tied and took the lead in the second on goals from Markus Eisenschmid and Max Friberg and relied on Danis and good fortune to preserve the lead.
Josh Leivo had three shots on goal and a pair of quality scoring chances in the fifth and final game of his conditioning stint, but was stymied by the St. Johns netminder. Kapanen also hit the crossbar on a third period breakaway.
Josh Leivo just barely misses a chance to make it 2-0 Marlies on this chance created by Frederik Gauthier and Milan Michalek pic.twitter.com/21Pzwn78ZD
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) November 19, 2016
Leivo went pointless in five games with the Marlies and the Leafs will have to make a roster move to accommodate the end of his conditioning stint. Toronto could roll the dice and hope that he clears waivers, but that could be a risky proposition since the 23-year-old winger was an AHL All-Star last season and scored five goals in 12 NHL games last season.
Forwards Peter Holland, Ben Smith, Nikita Soshnikov and defenseman Frank Corrado are options to be demoted.
Holland would likely get through waivers with his $1.3 Million one-way contract being a deterrent. Smith has been placed on waivers by Colorado this season and his inexpensive $675,000 deal and abilities as a faceoff specialist/penalty killer could be as enticing to another team as it was to Toronto.
Soshnikov is waiver exempt, but plays the energetic game that head coach Mike Babcock has an affinity for. Corrado is clearly not a favorite of the head coach (playing just once in 18 games) but defense is a position where the organization has little depth. *******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.*******
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