Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Murray, Marner Come Up Big In Win Over Preds; Leafs vs. Wings

January 12, 2023, 7:09 PM ET [235 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook!

For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter

*******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.*******


The Toronto Maple Leafs without star center Auston Matthews were engaged in a tight, playoff-style contest with the Nashville Predators at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, and were thwarted for most of the evening by Vezina Trophy finalist Juuse Saros, but came out on top 2-1 thanks to the goaltending of Matt Murray and a Mitch Marner power-play goal with 1:15 left in regulation.

John Tavares and Marner scored for Toronto, William Nylander had a pair of assists, and Murray, after recent subpar outings against Arizona and Seattle, had arguably his best outing as a Leaf, making 32 saves.



“(Saros) at the other end is playing really well, too. He is an elite goalie down the other way. You need to match him save for save. We generated looks and weren’t getting much to show for it. (Matt) had to stay strong and stand tall at the other end.” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “For me, (Murray was) full marks tonight. He has played a lot of really good hockey for us this season. I think back maybe in Dallas, or I am sure there are a few others I have forgotten… I am not sure there has ever been a game I left saying, ‘the goaltender won us the game.’ In a lot of ways, you could say that tonight.”



The Leafs power play struggled mightily on the night, being unable to enter the Nashville zone cleanly and possess the puck. Toronto finally broke through after Mark Jankowski received a double-minor for high-sticking Morgan Rielly late in the third.

“It was ugly, but it won us the hockey game,” Keefe said.

Bobby McMann played 11:02 in his NHL debut alongside Alex Kerfoot and David Kampf and could be in the lineup in Detroit on Thursday based on the status of Auston Matthews, who Keefe said would be a game-time decision after missing his first game of the season with an unspecified injury.

Ilya Samsonov (12-3-1, 2.29 GAA, .916 save %) will get the start for Toronto in the second of back-to-back games, and Ville Husso (13-8-5, 3.03 GAA, .901 save %) will be between the pipes for Detroit.

*******



Join the Discussion: » 235 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Mike Augello
» Matthews Game-Time Decision; 2023 Draftees Update; Leafs vs. Capitals
» Leafs Frustrated And Immature In Loss To Devils
» Practicing Load Management Down The Stretch; Leafs vs. Devils
» Woll Wonderful In Loss To Canes; Keefe Downplaying Samsonov Injury
» Podcast Sunday – Off The Post Radio