Awesome Matthews
Game 12: Canucks vs. Leafs
Simon B
Last game, the Leafs flat out dominated the Canucks all over the ice. Normally, a team that got embarrassed 7-3 comes into their next game with a lot more energy. The Canucks had to make a few changes to try and put some life into their group.
The Leafs had to make some changes of their own. Travis Dermott suffered a Charley Horse last game so Mikko Lethnonen got the start. Some people in Leafs Nation Rasmus Sandin is just going to have to wait a while longer for his first start of the season. Personally, Lehtonen was the right choice coming into this one because he’s been producing well offensively.
The Game
Right at the beginning of the period, I was looking for some sort of speed and determination from the Canucks. After the lackluster effort Vancouver put in on Thursday, I couldn't imagine we would see that version of the Canucks again. But early on, Vancouver's Alex Edler took a slashing call, putting the Canucks down a man.
If teams need to know one thing about the Leafs, it's that if you give them a power play, they usually score (at a league-best average, 40% of the time). The Leafs did just that. Mitch Marner found Wayne Simmonds in front of the net (where Simmonds usually is) and Simmonds showed some nice patience in tight by flicking the puck up top corner to give Toronto the lead.
Let's talk about Simmonds for a second. He was brought in to be a veteran leader and to add some grit to an otherwise softer group, he's done much more over the first 12 games. Not only is he playing that physical role he said he would, but he's given the team scoring depth as well. With his leadership, Toronto dominated the ice once again, so much so that all 170 lbs of Mitch Marner were able to get the puck off of two Canucks players and get it over to Auston Matthews. As a defenseman, I know that going one-on-one against the other team's best player will never be a fun time. Jalen Chatfield was absolutely fooled by a brilliant Matthews move. Matthews then ripped it top-shelf, and just like that it was 2-0 Leafs. Vancouver picked up some momentum late in the frame but the Leafs went into the second up by two.
The second period was nothing like the first: sloppy plays by both teams and some grade-A scoring chances for both teams. That type of play is usually a coach's worst nightmare because he sees none of the structured play that he preaches during practices. As a fan, though, this is a more exciting style of play that really gets nerve-wracking at times. Unfortunately for Vancouver, they made one mistake too many and the Leafs took advantage. Marner carried it into the Canucks zone and got it to Mikko Lehtonen who put it right in front of the net for a streaking Zach Hyman. Hyman tapped into a wide-open cage to make it 3-0.
At this point, it looked like we were going to have another repeat of Thursday's game. Then Vancouver answered with a goal by JT Miller. But wait, Leafs Head coach Sheldon Keefe challenged the play for offside. Turns out when the Canucks entered the offensive zone, one of their forwards was one skate stride offside, and the goal was overturned. I have never liked the rule where a coach can challenge a goal due to a play that happened 30 or 40 seconds prior. If the refs had there was a missed call 5 to 10 seconds before a goal then I think it would have been alright to challenge, but in this case, the play went on for 40-plus seconds afterward, and too many other things happened before the goal for the zone entry to have affected the play. Nonetheless, the Leafs kept their 3-0 lead until the end of the period.
At the start of the third period, the Canucks made another costly mistake. Goaltender Brayden Holtby moved to clear the puck but JT Miller was really slow getting to the puck and instead Matthews picked it up and walked in on Holtby to deke him out before scoring five-hole.
Matthews is on fire this season! He's got goals in 7 straight games. Only three off the franchise record set 100 years ago by Babe Dye (he's got the most 1920s name ever).
Soon after, the Leafs were still pressing in Vancouver's zone and a point shot by Mikko Lehtonen was tipped in front by Wayne Simmonds. There's no stopping the Wayne Train these days, either, as he puts in his 6th of the season and second of the game to make it 5-0.
At that point, I started to feel bad for the Canucks. Well, maybe not the Canucks but their fans. Last game, I enjoyed the Leafs running up the score a bit but on Saturday it started to become painful to watch, Vancouver looked pretty lifeless until about the last few minutes when Brock Boeser got one to give Vancouver a goal and spoil Andersen's shutout bid. That sealed the deal and the Leafs would go on and win 5-1.
The Wrap
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