The Maple Leafs 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at Air Canada Center on Tuesday was a fitting finale to their five-game home stand, in which Toronto earned eight of a possible 10 points and stabilized a season that had been mostly chaotic. While the Leafs have to be pleased with the end result, aspects of the victories over Dallas, Vancouver and Calgary have to give Randy Carlyle and the Leafs coaching staff a bit of pause.
Jonathan Bernier was once again Toronto’s saving grace, making 32 saves for his 11th win of the season and sixth victory in a string of nine straight starts. Bernier kept the game scoreless through the Leafs traditionally sluggish start, making great stops on Calgary’s Jiri Hudler and Johnny Gaudreau just prior to Peter Holland’s opening goal midway through the first.
The Leafs dominated the middle frame, outshooting the Flames 13-4 and extending their lead to 2-0 on James van Riemsdyk’s power play goal, but appeared content to sit back on their lead in the third, which allowed Calgary to get back into and take control of the game.
Markus Granland scored on the power play early in the third to narrow the lead to 2-1 and the Flames spent the remainder of the game buzzing around the Toronto zone, but Bernier was able to preserve the tenuous Toronto lead with 15 saves down the stretch before Phil Kessel and Mike Santorelli scored into the empty net to insure the victory.
“All you can ask from your goalie is to give you a chance to win every night, and he has done that and more every game.… Van Riemsdyk said of Bernier following the game. “When things aren’t going our way he keeps us in games, and then it’s our job to kind of get it going.…
With four goals on Tuesday, the Leafs move into sole possession of second in NHL scoring with 93 goals, just behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, but that offensive production has covered up some defensive lapses and falling into old habits over the last week.
“The second period was probably one of the best periods we have played this year, from a perspective of playing more of the style of hockey that’s going to be required for 60 minutes.… Carlyle said. “Those are the things you try to capture and then present and give your team an opportunity to watch…
Toronto played with the throttle wide-open against Dallas, allowing 38 Dallas shots and holding on for a 5-3 victory after leading 4-1 after 40 minutes. The script was similar against Vancouver, as the Leafs took a commanding 4-0 lead and chased Ryan Miller in the second, but sat back and allowed the Canucks to pelt Bernier with 34 shots in the final 40 minutes and climb within 4-2 before David Clarkson’s empty-net goal.
Against the Flames, Toronto had just a two goal lead entering the third and went into what Carlyle called a “prevent defense… the final 20 minutes.
“We were on our heels and we just threw the puck away and then we just started slapping it around and we didn’t play the body at all.… Carlyle said. “They were allowed the freedom to skate wherever they wanted and they had the puck most of the third period.…
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The Leafs face a difficult task in their second of back-to-back games with their fourth meeting of the season against the Detroit Red Wings. Toronto is 1-1-1 against the Wings, splitting two 4-1 decisions at ACC and a 1-0 overtime loss at Joe Louis Arena on October 18 as Henrik Zetterberg scored the game winner with 10 seconds remaining.
Toronto plays Detroit in the second of a home-and-home on Saturday at Air Canada Center, completing the season series with their division rival prior to Christmas.
It is expected that Toronto will go with the same lineup that suited up against Calgary, but that James Reimer will see action for the first time since relieving Bernier against Nashville on November 18. Reimer allowed 12 goals in his last two appearances against the Sabres and Predators and faces the difficult task of playing the red-hot Wings, who are atop the Atlantic Division with 39 points, are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and have not played since a 3-1 victory in Carolina on Sunday.
Jimmy Howard is expected to get the start for Detroit.
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