One could to get the impression that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens really don’t like each other.
The Leafs responded not only to surrendering a 3-1 second period lead but to the verbal jousting from one of the NHL’s best trash talkers, as James Van Riemsdyk scored the game winning goal with 5:33 remaining in regulation and tugged on the crest of jersey to mimic Habs defenseman PK Subban in Toronto’s emotionally satisfying 5-3 victory at Air Canada Center on Saturday.
Cody Franson, Phil Kessel, Mason Raymond and Joffrey Lupul also scored for Toronto, while Brendan Gallagher, Brian Gionta and David Deharnais tallied for Montreal.
Carey Price stopped 25 shots for Les Habitants and Jonathan Bernier made 30 saves for his third straight victory, as Toronto moves to within four points of Montreal in the Atlantic Division standings.
The win is the fourth straight for the Blue and White, who wore their Winter Classic edition jerseys as part the annual Hockey Day In Canada celebration.
"If you don't get shivers and chills on Toronto-Montreal on a Saturday night on 'Hockey Night in Canada,' either in Montreal or Toronto, then I don't think you understand the true meaning of the game here in Canada," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said following the game.
Nazem Kadri responded to speculation that he is being shopped for a possible trade with his best effort in over a month, assisting on Franson’s opening goal early in the first after undressing Montreal defenseman Alexei Emelin and another goal of the season late in the middle frame.
“I would say that we’ve been patient with (Kadri).… Carlyle said. “We’ve tried to work with him, we’re not working against him and we’re trying to provide him with an opportunity to continue to grow his game.… Subban was the center of attention for most of the night, playing over 30 minutes and exchanging words with the Toronto bench following Gallagher’s tying power play goal late in the first.
“We weren’t too thrilled about their first goal. The player scored, came by the bench and was chirping at our bench.… van Riemsdyk said after the game. “I don’t know if they want to play that game, but we’ll play it too.…
Toronto took a 3-1 lead late in the second on goals by Kessel and Raymond, but Montreal closed the gap to one as Habs captain Gionta buried a rebound past Bernier with just 12 seconds remaining in the middle frame.
The Leafs appeared to try to play a more defensively oriented game going into the final period in hopes of preserving their thin margin, but a lost defensive zone draw midway through the third resulted in Subban’s point shot being deflected by Deharnais for the tying goal.
Lupul was pulled down with Montreal's net empty and was awarded the final goal to lock up their third straight win over a divisional foe.
Toronto now embarks on a four game road swing, starting with a visit to Glendale to take on the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday.
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Former Leafs boss Brian Burke has always fancied acquiring players he has history with, so it is not a stretch to think that there could be a few Leafs - Flames deals in the near future.
Sun media's Bruce Garrioch reports on Sunday that the Calgary interim GM could be a possible destination for Nazem Kadri or Jake Gardiner if Leafs GM Dave Nonis is serious about moving either before the March 5 trade deadline or over the summer.
Garrioch indicates that Nonis may not be shopping the talented youngsters and may be trying to use the trade speculation wafting through the Toronto media for purposes of motivation, but if he is legitimately pursuing trade options on either, that the GM that drafted Gardiner in Anaheim and Kadri in Toronto would try to bring them to Alberta.
The challenge for Nonis would be to find a deal that would address some of the Leafs glaring needs. It is hard to imagine that Burke would be open to trading Flames captain Mark Giordano, who is the top pairing defenseman that Toronto desperately needs or 19-year-old center Sean Monahan.
An asset that the Leafs may covet and that Calgary may be willing to move is their 2014 first round pick. The Flames are currently 28th in the league and will likely have a lottery selection, but with Burke's track record of not preferring the "Pittsburgh model" and lengthy rebuilds, he could trade the pick in a deal to get players that are already established in the league, but still young enough to be part of a shorter term team retooling.
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