Finally!

 Game 28: Jets vs. Leafs

Simon B

A year ago, the entire world shut down. Well, the NBA shut down on March 11th then everything else seemed to follow suit following the 24 hours that followed. It's hard to believe that all that was only a year ago... Feels like a lifetime, doesn't it?  

I actually played in a hockey game the last time my calenders read March 11th. I even went to the dentist without wearing a mask (which ended up being the last time I went out in public without one). We're almost there again. I hope it’s only a matter of a few months before we don't need to gather in "bubbles" and "social distance." 

A lot has changed, and yet some things are still the same: Leafs Nation is panicking over a little three-game skid. Personally, I wasn't worried heading into this one. However, if they were to have lost this game, then even I would start to worry a little bit.

The Game

Right out of the gate, Connor Helleybuck picked up right back where he left off, sitting down chance after chance after chance for the Leafs. Toronto played all over the ice. The third line was especially excellent. Zach Hyman had a few brilliant opportunities to break the deadlock but Helleybuck was up to the challenge. 

Zach Hyman was really good in Tuesday's loss against Winnipeg and he continued his good play early in this one which earned him a few shifts on the top line with Matthews and Marner. That version of the top line with Hyman on it was put together for two reasons. One, to give Hyman a reward for his relentless work on the third line. Two, to give 41-year old Joe Thornton a bit of rest so he could stay fresh. 

All was going well until Travis Dermott gave away the puck on an ugly turnover and Pierre-Luc Dubois fed Nikolaj Ehlers, who buried a wrist shot late in the first to give Winnipeg a lead they really didn't deserve. The period ended with a score of 1-0.

The second started out with more of a "don't make mistakes'' attitude from both teams. There were chances at both ends but both goalies worked the crease hard (with Helleybuck definitely making the tougher saves). Overall it looked like the Jets were just going to try to mentally wear down Toronto. About three minutes in, the Leafs had possession in the Jets zone and were sorta cycling the puck around and not really shooting. Then Auston Matthews ripped one on the net and it was saved by Helleybuck but Mitch Marner pounced on the loose puck and put it into the gaping cage to tie the game up. Once the Leafs finally got one past Connor Helleybuck, they had a lot more confidence in themselves. 

Nylander...oh Nylander! Willy had about six or seven unbelievable chances to score but just a mix of unluckiness on his part and unreal saves by Connor Helleybuck kept him off the scoresheet. Naturally, Nikolaj Ehlers got the next goal after all the momentum the Leafs had just built. When the score became 2-1, I truly felt like Leafs were just going to collapse. They'd been giving everything they had to try and beat Helleybuck but this guy is an absolute wall in the Winnipeg net and frustration was building for the Leafs. There's no other way to describe how the rest of the period went except by using 2 words: Connor Helleybuck.

The third period was the biggest breath of fresh air possible for any Leafs fan. John Tavares danced through three Jets before backhanding a pass right on the tape of Nylander, who FINALLY got one to go and tie the game at two. Soon after, the Leafs were continuing to press in the offensive zone when Alex Kerfoot made a brilliant pass to Ilya Mikheyev who scored his fourth of the year, and just like that the Leafs had the lead. Toronto did start to play much more responsibly for the minutes that followed but when the Jets pulled their goalie with about three minutes left on the clock, Paul Stastny tipped a shot past Andersen to tire the game at 3 and send the game to overtime.

The Leafs and overtime go together like milk and cookies. It suits them: high-flying open ice with lots of chances off the rush. Well, early in OT, the Jets had the puck in the Leafs’ end when Morgan Reilly broke his stick and had to go to the bench and get a new one, which gave the Jets an extra skater for about 10 to 15 seconds. Mitch Marner made a crucial block and that sent the Leafs the other way. Rielly, equipped with a fresh twig, played a perfect saucer pass to Auston Matthews and number 34 did what he does best: backhanding it top-corner on Helleybuck to get the Leafs back in the win column.

The Wrap

It was a huge sigh of relief to get a win last night. The Leafs solved Helleybuck and they got their winning mojo right back. If they can get another win on Saturday against the Jets and then beat the Senators Sunday (which they should easily do) then they'll have a nice lead on the division heading into a week off, and Leafs Nation will sleep well for a bit.
And I’ll be well-rested to write about F1, Football, and The Jays!

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