The Toronto Maple Leafs earned a point against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, rallying with a pair of third period goals before Ryan O’Reilly scored in overtime to give the Blues a 3-2 victory and their 11th win in a row.
The Leafs were outplayed and outhit by St. Louis and fell behind 2-0 on goals by Jaden Schwartz and Colton Parayko, but Frederik Andersen kept Toronto within striking distance until the third period, when Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews scored 31 seconds apart to tie the game.
Toronto finished 3-2-1 on their six-game road swing and closed to within two points of Boston in the race for second in the Atlantic, but lost Nazem Kadri to a concussion after the center was checked by Blues defenseman Vince Dunn in the first period.
Kadri was expected to be re-evaluated when the club returned to Toronto , but their departure from Missouri was delayed due to weather until Wednesday morning, so any news may be delayed until Thursday when the Leafs begin a four-game homestand against the Washington Capitals, but that hit coming on the heels of Brayden McNabb’s collision of Andreas Johnsson brings into question whether GM Kyle Dubas will add players with size and sandpaper before Monday’s trade deadline and whether there is a need to bolster the NHL roster with another center.
William Nylander shifted to the middle to replace Kadri, but Mike Babcock does not believe that he is best suited to play up the middle and moving up either Par Lindholm or Frederik Gauthier to the third line would significantly decrease their offensive output.
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With five days left before the February 25th NHL Trade Deadline, the Leafs are continuing to track the Carolina Hurricanes. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Wednesday that Asst. GM Laurence Gilman and another Toronto scout were at the Canes - Rangers game in Raleigh on Tuesday.
Gilman was in attendance earlier this month at a Carolina game in Buffalo and the Hurricanes have circled back with increased interest over the last few months after the William Nylander impasse was resolved.
It is unknown whether the Leafs target of interest is highly sought rental forward Michael Ferland or one of their right-handed defensemen (Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Justin Faulk). Ferland may have interest to Dubas and Babcock to shore up their weak left side, but the Canes are reported looking for a high draft pick for the 26-year-old and indications are the Leafs would prefer to add players with term remaining.
Toronto targeting one of Carolina’s righties would require them to clear a significant salary as Hamilton makes $5.75 Million for another two seasons, Faulk makes $4.83 Million next year and Pesce is signed through 2024 at $4.025 Million and would likely cost them an NHL forward in Andreas Johnsson or Kasperi Kapanen.
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