Victories are sweet, but they are much sweeter when fan favorites score the winning goal.
The Maple Leafs halted a two-game losing streak on Saturday, as popular winger Leo Komarov scored with 5:34 remaining in regulation to give Toronto a 5-4 victory over the New York Rangers at Air Canada Center. Komarov scored his first of the season and added an assist on Peter Holland’s first period short-handed goal, but was more pleased with the team’s accomplishments than his own personal stats.
“His on-ice play is one of a player that refuses to stop working.… Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said of Komarov after the game. “He enjoying coming to the rink and playing. He only knows one way and gives 110% in practice and in games.…
The former Finnish Olympian scored four goals and five assists in 42 games in his first stint with the Leafs in 2013, but after re-signing with Toronto for four-years, $11.8 Million, the 27-year-old has added an offensive contribution to his defensive, penalty killing and checking abilities. Komarov is second on the club(trailing only Phil Kessel)with eight assists in 14 games
“We’ve tried to fit him higher in our lineup, because when he was here before he was basically a fourth line player/penalty killer and now we are using more as a regular in our top nine.… Carlyle said
Kessel, Holland, Richard Panik and Roman Polak also scored and Jonathan Bernier made 31 saves for Toronto, who improve to 7-5-2 on the season and even their home record at 4-4 on the season.
Toronto continued their habit of digging an early hole for themselves on Saturday, as Chris Kreider gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead just 53 seconds into the game, but were able to draw even and take the lead thanks to their special teams. Kessel tied the game with his club-leading eighth goal of the season on a Toronto two-man advantage and Komarov’s work on the penalty kill led to Holland’s second goal of the campaign.
Panik scored on a rebound of a Cody Franson shot to extend the lead to 3-1, but New York responded with just 40 seconds remaining in the first, as Kreider set up Mats Zuccarello for the goal.
Defensive shortcomings were central in Toronto squandering their lead, as a botched exchange between Stephane Robidas and Jake Gardiner resulted in Carl Hagelin’s tying goal late in the second and the inability of the James van Riemsdyk,-Tyler Bozak-Kessel line to win battles along the boards allowed the Rangers a long offensive opportunity that culminated in Rick Nash’s league-leading 11th goal early in the third.
The Leafs responded with the tying goal less than three minutes later, as Komarov and Clarkson provided a screen that enabled Polak’s point shot to beat Rangers goalie Cam Talbot and with the winner as Gardiner intercepted a Matt Hunwick clearing attempt and made a nice backhand pass to set up Komarov wrister from the slot.
“It’s always nice to score, I know I’m not going to score that much.… Komarov said following the game. “It feels great to see the puck go in, but I think the win feels better.…
The Leafs do not have much time to enjoy their winning effort, as they take on the Ottawa Senators in Kanata, ON on Sunday afternoon. The game against Toronto’s provincial rival was rescheduled after being postponed on October 15 after the tragic death of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial and shooting inside Parliament in downtown Ottawa.
Maple Leafs, Senators gather at National War Memorial to honor fallen soldiers. http://t.co/jKxygvpy7L pic.twitter.com/4COGFB0ex3
— theScore (@theScore) November 9, 2014The Sens are 7-3-3(17 points), one point ahead of Toronto in the Atlantic Division standings and lost 2-1 to Winnipeg in a shootout on Saturday without forwards Bobby Ryan, Alex Chiasson and defenseman Chris Phillips in the lineup. Goalie Craig Anderson made 36 saves in the defeat and it is expected that backup Robin Lehner will start at the Canadian Tire Center. James Reimer will be between the pipes for the Leafs in the second of back-to-back games.
Reimer has a 9-2-1 career record, 1.98 GAA and .944 save percentage vs Ottawa.
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Toronto recalled center Trevor Smith from the Toronto Marlies on Sunday and it is likely that the 29-year-old veteran will see action against Ottawa. Smith has two goals and three assists with the Leafs AHL affiliate and did not play in a 4-3 overtime loss to Oklahoma City Saturday night.
The fourth line of Josh Leivo, Sam Carrick and Matt Frattin saw less than seven minutes ice time against the Rangers and forward Daniel Winnik did not make the trip to Ottawa. With Carlyle not having the benefit of the last change on the road, Smith provides a more experience on the fourth line and will likely replace the more inexperienced Leivo or ineffective Frattin.
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