New Identity? Maybe
Game 7: Leafs vs. Flames
Simon B
The beauty of an afternoon full of sports. The Leafs are playing a matinee, so are the Raptors and it's championship Sunday in the NFL. The Raptors won a close one 107-102 so that was a good way to start the afternoon. The Leafs were playing at the same time as the Packers so I had to give my remote a bit of workout flipping channels.
I really liked the afternoon start for the Leafs. As a fan, it was a nice way to spend a Sunday. For the players, it might not have been so enjoyable. The afternoon start after a travel day playing a well-rested Flames team. All these factors meant Jack Campbell would be getting the start for the Leafs to give Frederik Andersen an extra day to settle in. Auston Matthews also made his return to the lineup after missing the last game with upper-body soreness.
Gametime(s)
Toronto had two very defensively tight games against the Oilers so I was looking for more of the same against a skilled Flames team. At the start, the puck seemed to be bouncing around everywhere like a pinball. Neither team had full control of the puck for more than 30 seconds at a time. Jack Campbell didn't have to wait long to get into the game as he had to make a few sharp saves early. On an offensive rush, the Leafs had Calgary pinned in their own zone. The puck was on the point with Jake Muzzin who tossed the puck on the net but. A good traffic jam in from of Flames goaltender Jakob Markstrom helped the soft shot go in to give the leafs the 1-0 lead. TJ Brodie was making his first return to Calgary after spending his last 10 seasons with the Flames. The Flames made a little tribute video but it felt kind of awkward because there were no fans to salute him. The Leafs were good defensively from then on. Lots of blocked shots and deflected ones helped keep the game in their favor. This was not really "leafy" as they led by one in a low shooting period.
It seems like I say this every game. The Leafs took a penalty early in the period. Calgary looked hungry on the Power Play but caught a bad break when it ended early thanks to a Miachel Backlund interference call. So far this season, Ilya Mikheyev is one of the most stand-out players I've seen. He hasn't scored yet but the way he's playing, I'm sure the goals will start piling up. He was excellent in this one again getting at least two or three grade-A chances. As the period went on, the game hit a bit of a dead spot. Not much action from either team. That ended soon after, though, with a scramble in front of the Leaf net that left Jack Campbell helpless and Sean Monahan Tied it for Calgary. Late in the period, Nikita Nesterov took a little bit of a weak slashing call that put Toronto on the Power Play. Eight seconds in, Marner sent one on the net and it hit Wayne Simmonds in front of the net and the Leafs take a on-goal-lead. They would take that lead to the dressing room.
Really early in the third, I kept switching from the Packers game to the Leafs game. The Packers were losing and, after a decision to kick a field goal instead of trying for a touchdown, I came back to the Leafs game and never switched back. It's not often you can say "I switched to the Leafs for some comfort." Well, I got my comfort with Auston Matthews tipping in a shot that hit just about everyone on the way to the net. This was Matthews' first goal against the Flames, which means he has now scored against every team in the NHL. Hyman took a holding call a bit later on. On the man advantage, Elias Lindholm fired one short side on Campbell, and a nice screen by Matthew Tkachuk made it unsavable. Calgary took all the momentum after that. There was pressure in the Leafs zone all the time. The Flames pulled Markstrom with 1:50 to go. On a chance in tight, Cambell looked like he overstretched to make a save and he was in visible pain. Seconds later another scramble where Matthew Tkachuk landed his knee on Campbell's back made matters worse. Campbell gutted it out and got the Leafs the win.
The Packers...well that's another story.
The Wrap
Coming away with the win is definitely something Gorge Armstrong would've wanted. The career Leaf who captained for 12 seasons and led them to 4 cups passed away Sunday morning. Armstrong was a trailblazer whose legacy will always be in the memory of Leafs fans and immortalized on legends row in front of the Scotiabank Arena (formerly the ACC). He's the last Leaf captain to hoist the cup 54 years ago. He was 90.
Tuesday's clash will definitely be a fun one with things heating up between the two teams late in the third. If Toronto can win, I'll see it as a big statement win. They are currently 5-2-0 on the season and taking 2 from a rested Flames team can show the resilience this group has.
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