The Toronto Maple Leafs returned home after a successful Western road trip and continued their winning ways against the Montreal Canadiens, as Auston Matthews scored his league-leading 28th goal and set up Zach Hyman for the game-winner in a 3-2 win at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
TJ Brodie scored his first of the season to give Toronto the lead early in the third and Hyman added his 13th midway through the final frame after a nice individual effort from Matthews in the defensive zone sprung the Leafs on an odd-man break.
The story of the game was Jack Campbell, who was again sharp in a 32-save effort for his 10th consecutive victory, setting a Leafs franchise record. After the game, Campbell’s teammates were eager to sing the praises of the goalie.
"I'm just so happy for him. He's such an amazing person and he brings a lot of joy to everybody's lives and in the locker room," Matthews said after the game. "I just couldn't be happier for him, he played unbelievable again tonight, he's been unbelievable all season and he's just such a special person."
With the win, the Leafs have won five straight and eight of their last nine games to bounce back from losing six of seven in mid-March, and now have opened up a seven-point lead on the Edmonton Oilers in the North Division, but the focus with four days left before the NHL Trade Deadline is what GM Kyle Dubas will do to improve the clubs chances.
Jack Campbell emotional after his franchise record 10th straight win
The first domino fell on Wednesday, as the NY Islanders traded a 2021 first round, a conditional pick and two minor leaguers to the New Jersey Devils for forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. Palmieri had 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists) in 34 games and was near the top of the list of rental forwards available before 3pm next Monday.
According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, both the Boston Bruins and Leafs were in on acquiring the 30-year-old winger, who had 50% of his $4.6 million contract retained to fit under the salary cap. With it nearly impossible for Toronto to fit even half of Taylor Hall’s $8 million salary under the cap without help from a third team, Toronto’s likely veteran forward targets could be Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno or Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton.
The 33-year-old Foligno has a modified no-trade and no-movement clause, but is an unrestricted free agent played for a Columbus club fading in the race for a playoff spot. Laughton’s $2.3 million cap hit is low enough for the Leafs to fit in and the 26-year-old provides the sandpaper that Toronto is sorely lacking.
*******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.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»