A Dave Keon scoring record, no matter if the goaltender is absent, rarely gets matched.
But Zach Hyman — “the Sidney Crosby of 6-on-5” as Auston Matthews calls him — is set to pass one mark that the player voted best Maple Leaf in the first hundred years of the franchise had held since 1975.
When Hyman charged down the ice Saturday against Vancouver and buried his 12th career empty-netter, he tied Keon.
“That’s crazy, pretty cool,” said Hyman. “That’s a huge honour. Any time you get a chance to be mentioned in the same breath as Keon is pretty special.”
Hyman has played 298 Leafs games to Keon’s 1,062.
“They must have not pulled the goalie too much back then,” figured Hyman.
True, it’s done with far more frequency in the 21st century, much earlier in games and sometimes the goalie remains out after one empty-netter has been potted.
But that regular 20-goal scorer Hyman is always trusted to be out in the late stages to defend a lead puts him in position for such freebies. And rarely does Hyman fire wildly from long range to risk icings, staying in full checker mode and usually carrying the puck the whole distance to make sure it’s buried as he did Saturday.
“I don’t think about (the record) too much, I just take pride in it because that’s what seals the game 99.9% of the time,” Hyman said. “I’m happy that it results in a win.”
The presence of Frederik Gauthier and Martin Marincin on the roster is often cited as reasons the Maple Leafs aren’t to be taken seriously as playoff contenders. Read More
On contributions from all lines and D pairings tonight:
Well, the depth guys today did a great job for us. Not only providing offence but they gave us good shifts, worked hard, carried play for us, for the most part, when they were out there. We’re asking a lot of our defence — all our defence that are out there — we’re asking a lot of them to play different roles than they have all season for most of them. Guys did a good job. Marty [Marincin] did a good job all game, and yet had a tough stretch to end the second period there and he got quite tired. I believe his minutes were reaching a minute for [that shift]. He regrouped and made a big-time play there. I’ve come to only expect highlight reels from Marty with the Marlies. Every time he scored it was a memorable goal.
On what he has learned about the group over the last week:
I think just we’re working. We look like what we’re capable of when we’re going about it properly in terms of our preparation and our habits and our work ethic, competitiveness. And, frankly, I thought today we weren’t at the same level we were at on the road. The game was just different. I just thought we weren’t as sharp as we were on the road, so I didn’t love that, obviously. But, just once again, just responding to that first period and finding our way through all the ups and downs of it and then the game settles down and we stayed with it. We didn’t generate nearly as much offence as I thought we were capable of and would have liked to. We got enough to win the game. Not a perfect game defensively by any means, but volume of shots and activity at our net with our defence the way that it is and what we’re asking everybody to do. I think we did a nice job with everybody stepping up and it’s been a collective effort.
On the importance of trying to expand the gap on Florida in the standings this week:
We’ve got to win our games. That’s really all we can focus on thus all we need to take care of. It’s going to be important for us here to take this week, we feel good about it, now we’ve got a little bit of time here before we get going and play on Tuesday and we’re going to travel out there. We’re going to play against teams when you look at the standings that you’re going to think that there’s real opportunity there for us. But we’ve been watching those teams and looking at it. They’ve been playing good hockey and they’ve beaten good teams, those teams out there. It’s going to be competitive games. They’re important games for us, nonetheless. We’ve done pretty well on the road. Obviously, this week we did really well on the road. The sun worked in our favour so hopefully that will continue.
On the connection between the loss last Saturday to Carolina and the three-game win streak:
Well I think the only real connection, obviously, is there’s a real shock to the system when you have a night like that, right? You really get everyone’s attention. So that’s really what I would say. I think — it’s funny how you want to look at it, right? If you look at a six-game sample there, we had three games that were pretty messy. Or you look at a [five] game sample and four out of the five that we’ve played here — the Pittsburgh game on home ice, two road games and tonight. The connection is just we got a wakeup call. When we ended on the road, we got the guys attention on the importance of getting your stuff together, responding well. It’s going to be tough the rest of the way, all the way through, and we can’t have any lapses.
FREDERIK ANDERSEN (25 SAVES)
On what has led to the team’s lower event defensive efforts in recent games:
I think we really bought in to the way we want to play, and I think guys are doing a great job of selecting shots, especially down the end and obviously leading to some good goals. Just chill the game and I think we’ve been playing really tight as a group, so the resiliency has been great.
On bouncing back after allowing a couple of goals early:
Yeah, you said it. Just regroup and focus on what’s next. It doesn’t matter what’s happened, you can’t do anything about it early, but the most important thing is to focus on what’s next and that’s the next shot so all I can focus on.
ZACH HYMAN (1 GOAL)
On the three-game win streak:
Yeah, they’re not perfect games, for sure, but they are all wins, and they are all games where we’re playing against really good opponents and we have to battle in them and really earn our wins. So three huge games for us and it’s big.
On what he’s liked most from his team in the last three games:
I think everyone is contributing. I think that’s been awesome. Great for [Marincin] to get the game winner — what a goal, right? That really gets the bench alive and that was awesome. Obviously, we’re short on staff on the back on D but all those guys are stepping up and playing great. It was three great wins.
MARTIN MARINCIN (GAME-WINNING GOAL)
On his goal:
I just got a great pass by [Tavares] and the ice was open. I had good speed, so I felt like it was going to be a good shot and I was going to try. It goes in.
On his reaction to the goal:
I was so, so happy. It’s my first goal this season. I was excited for that and that goal made it 3-2 for us. Really good goal in the third period, that was good for the team, I think. I was excited.
AUSTON MATTHEWS (1 GOAL)
On a full team effort tonight:
It’s great, obviously love to see when you’ve got multiple lines with all guys contributing. Awesome to see Marv’s goal, it was unbelievable, so I think everyone was pretty excited after that one.
On if he’d seen Marincin score a goal like that before:
I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it before; you don’t see it often from old Marv but when he brings it out it’s usually a treat. It was pretty fun to watch.
Frederik Gauthier put the Maple Leafs on the board at 2:45 of the first period. Gauthier has two points (1-1-2) over his last three games. He has 12 points (7-5-12) in 57 games this season. He has scored six of his seven goals on home ice.
Auston Matthews scored the second Toronto goal of the night at 6:25 of the first period. Matthews has goals (2) in two consecutive games and points (2-2-4) in three consecutive games. He has two goals in two games against the Canucks this season. In 33 games on home ice this season, he has recorded 31 goals and 17 assists.
Martin Marincin scored the third Maple Leafs goal of the game at 0:18 of the third period. Marincin has points (1-1-2) in two consecutive games. He has three points (1-2-3) in 23 games this season.
Zach Hyman scored the fourth Toronto goal of the night into an empty net at 18:06 of the third period. Hyman has goals (2) and points (2-1-3) in two consecutive games. His goal was his 23rd of the season, tying his career-high for goals in a season set in 2018-19. He has 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 21 games played on home ice.
Tyson Barrie recorded the primary assist on Gauthier’s first period goal and later had the secondary assist on Marincin’s third period goal. Barrie has six assists over his last four games played. Tonight’s game is his eighth multi-assist and 12th multi-point game of the season. He has recorded 21 of his 34 assists on home ice this season.
Rasmus Sandin had the secondary assist on Gauthier’s first period goal. Sandin has eight points (1-7-8) in 26 games this season. He has recorded five of his seven assists on home ice.
Travis Dermott had the lone assist on Matthews’ first period goal and later had the secondary assist on Hyman’s empty net goal. Dermott has recorded 11 points (4-7-11) in 52 games this season. Tonight’s game is his first multi-assist and first multi-point game of the season. He has four assists in four career games against Vancouver.
John Tavares registered the primary assist on Marincin’s third period goal. Tavares has assists (2) in two consecutive games and points (3-4-7) in five consecutive games. He has recorded two goals and two assists in two games against the Canucks in 2019-20.
Mitch Marner recorded the primary assist on Hyman’s empty net goal. Marner has assists (3) in three consecutive games. He is tied for ninth in the NHL in assists (49). His 31 primary assists rank eighth among NHLers.
Frederik Andersen stopped 25 shots to earn his 28th win of the season.
The Maple Leafs went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and 0-for-4 on the power play tonight.
Travis Dermott started 12.5 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, which was the lowest mark among Toronto skaters.
Justin Holl was on the ice for a team-high 17 shot attempts at 5-on-5 tonight. Holl finished the game with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 51.5 (17 for, 15 against).
John Tavares won 75 percent (6 won, 2 lost) of his offensive zone faceoffs. He was 9-for-14 (64%) in the faceoff circle when matched up against Vancouver centre Bo Horvat.
UPCOMING GAMES:
Tuesday, March 3, 10:30 p.m. at San Jose Sharks (Sportsnet Ontario, FAN 590)
Thursday, March 5, 10:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Kings (Sportsnet Ontario, TSN 1050
Friday, March 6, 10:00 p.m. at Anaheim Ducks (TSN4, TSN 1050)
Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (TSN4, TSN 1050)
Thursday, March 12, 7:00 p.m. vs. Nashville Predators (TSN4, TSN 1050)
SCOTIABANK ARENA (TORONTO, ON) ▪ TV: SPORTSNET/HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA ▪
RADIO: TSN 1050
MAPLE LEAFS HISTORY versus VANCOUVER
ALL-TIME RECORD:
60-62-22-3 (147 Games)
ALL-TIME AT HOME:
34-25-11-1 (71 Games)
2019-20:
1-0-0
LAST FIVE:
3-1-1
LAST 10:
6-2-2
MAPLE LEAFS CAREER LEADERS versus VANCOUVER
GAMES PLAYED:
Kyle Clifford (38), Jake Muzzin (32), Jason Spezza (27)
GOALS:
John Tavares (9), Jason Spezza (6), Three players tied (4)
ASSISTS:
Tyson Barrie (11), Jason Spezza (10), John Tavares (10)
POINTS:
John Tavares (19), Jason Spezza (16), Tyson Barrie (15)
PENALTY MINUTES:
Kyle Clifford (61), Jake Muzzin (24), Morgan Rielly (9)
MAPLE LEAFS – CANUCKS TEAM STATS
TORONTO
VANCOUVER
GOALS FOR (Rank):
228 (1st)
206 (11th)
GOALS AGAINST (Rank):
212 (28th)
192 (12th)
POWER PLAY [%] (Rank):
43/177 [24.3%] (4th)
54/220 [24.6%] (3rd)
PENALTY KILL [%] (Rank):
138/180 [76.7%] (26th)
159/198 [80.3%] (t-16th)
SHOTS (Rank):
2142 (4th)
1963 (22nd)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPTS FOR (Rank):
3241 (3rd)
2763 (24th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % (Rank):
52.2% (6th)
48.3% (22nd)
FACEOFF % (Rank):
52.7% (3rd)
54.1% (2nd)
MAPLE LEAFS – CANUCKS NOTES
First Matchup between Clubs:
October 11, 1970 (Vancouver 5, Toronto 3)
All-Time Record:
60-62-22-3 (147 Games)
All-Time Record at Home:
34-25-11-1 (71 Games)
All-Time Record on the Road:
26-37-11-2 (76 Games)
Last Win vs. Opponent at Home:
January 5, 2019 (Toronto 5, Vancouver 0)
MAPLE LEAFS MILESTONES vs. CANUCKS
Kyle Clifford
First NHL game (Oct. 9, 2010 (LAK) at VAN)
Travis Dermott
First NHL game (Jan. 6, 2018 vs. VAN) First NHL point (Assist) (Jan. 6, 2018 vs. VAN)
Mitch Marner
200th NHL game (Jan. 5, 2019 vs. VAN)
Jake Muzzin
First NHL game (Oct. 9, 2010 (LAK) at VAN) First NHL point (Assist) (Oct. 15, 2010 (LAK) at VAN)
MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS
CATEGORY
LEADER
GOALS
44 (Matthews)
ASSISTS
47 (Marner)
POINTS
76 (Matthews)
POWER PLAY POINTS
24 (Matthews)
SHORTHANDED POINTS
2 (Engvall, Kapanen)
PIMs
40 (Muzzin)
SHOTS
265 (Matthews)
FACEOFF WIN%
55.7% (Gauthier)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %
54.9% (Nylander)
BLOCKED SHOTS
110 (Muzzin)
TAKEAWAYS
72 (Matthews)
HITS
109 (Muzzin)
TOI PER GAME
24:15 (Rielly)
PP TOI PER GAME
3:06 (Marner)
SH TOI PER GAME
2:50 (Ceci)
MAPLE LEAFS SNAPSHOTS
Faceoffs
– The Maple Leafs rank third among NHL teams in faceoff win percentage (52.7%) and are second among NHL teams in offensive zone faceoff win percentage (54.0%).
Goals by Strength
– The Maple Leafs hold the NHL lead in goals scored at 5-on-5 (154).
Goals by Period
– Toronto is tied for second in the NHL in goals scored in the second period (84) and are tied for sixth in the NHL in goals scored in the third period (75).
Power Play
– The Maple Leafs are the lone NHL team to score at least 40 power play goals (43) with fewer than 180 power play opportunities (177).
Penalty Kill
– Toronto has been shorthanded 180 times this season, which is the eighth-fewest times shorthanded in the NHL.
Scoring First
– Toronto has a .767 win percentage when scoring first, which is tied for the fifth-highest in the NHL.
MAPLE LEAFS PLAYER NOTES
Frederik Andersen
– Tied for third among NHL goaltenders in wins (27).- Ranks third in the NHL in saves (1,347).- Has a save percentage of .914 in 20 games played on one day rest.- Is 9-2-5 with a 1.52 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage in 16 career games against Vancouver.
Tyson Barrie
– Has seven multi-assist games, which is tied for eighth-most among NHL defencemen.- Tied for fourth among NHL defencemen in multi-point games (11). – Averages 14.57 shot attempts per game at 5-on-5, which is the fourth-highest average among NHL defencemen who have played in at least 50 games.- Ranks 18th among NHL defencemen in 5-on-5 time on ice per game (18:14).
Jack Campbell
– Has a 3-0-1 record with a .919 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average since being acquired by the Maple Leafs.
Kyle Clifford
– Seventh among NHL left wingers who have appeared in 50 games in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (54.5%). – Averages 14.88 shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which ranks 17th among left wingers.- Ranks 9.76 hits per 60 minutes of ice time, which ranks 33rd among NHL skaters.
Pierre Engvall
– Ninth among NHL rookie forwards who have appeared in 30 games in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (51.5%). – Has an on-ice goals-for percentage of 52.7 percent at 5-on-5, which is the eighth highest among NHL rookie forwards who have appeared in 30 games.- Ranks fifth among rookie forwards in 5-on-5 shot attempts per 60 minutes (13.62).
Justin Holl
– Has started the eighth-lowest percentage of his 5-on-5 shifts (42.7%) in the offensive zone among right-handed defencemen.- Ranks second in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (52.0%) among NHL defencemen who have started less than 45 percent of their 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone (42.7%).- Has the highest unblocked shot attempt percentage at 5-on-5 (52.6%) among NHL defencemen to have started fewer than 45 percent (42.7%) of their shifts in the offensive zone.
Zach Hyman
– Ranks fifth among Maple Leafs skaters in points per game (0.78).- Fourth among Toronto forwards in even-strength time on ice per game (16:04).- Ranks second among Toronto forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game (1:48).
Kasperi Kapanen
– Has drawn 18 penalties this season and taken eight, which gives him the highest net penalties among Toronto skaters (+10) and ranks tied for 23rd among NHL forwards.- Ranks fourth among Maple Leafs and 11th among NHL right wingers who have appeared in 50 games in assists per 60 minutes of ice time (1.28) at 5-on-5.
Alex Kerfoot
– Ranks second among Toronto skaters who have appeared in 50 games in assists per 60 minutes of ice time (1.32) at 5-on-5.- Tied for seventh among Maple Leafs in even-strength points (8-17-25).- Tied for second among Maple Leafs in primary assists at 5-on-5 (11).
Mitch Marner
– Ninth among NHL skaters in assists (48).- Has 12 multi-assist games, which is tied for the sixth-most among NHL skaters.- Averaging 1.17 points per game, which is tied for the 15th-highest average in the NHL.- Averaging 1.84 assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which is fifth among NHLers who have appeared in at least 50 games.- Tied for eighth in the NHL in primary assists (30).- Ranks fifth among NHL forwards in time on ice per game (21:28)
Auston Matthews
– Second among NHL skaters in goals (44).- Leads the NHL with 33 even-strength goals.- Leads the NHL in goals scored at 5-on-5 (27).- Second in the NHL in wrist shot goals (26).- Second in the NHL in multi-goal games (10).- Tied for fifth in the NHL in multi-point games (24).- Ranks 11th among NHL skaters in points (44-32-76).- Fourth in the NHL with 259 shots on goal.
William Nylander
– Leads the Maple Leafs and is tied for fifth among NHLers in game-winning goals (7).- One of 11 NHLers to average at least 14:00 minutes per game at 5-on-5 (14:31) while maintaining a goal per 60-minute rate of at least 1.20 (1.25).- Tied for eighth in the NHL in goals scored at 5-on-5 (19).- Ranks seventh among NHL forwards who average 14:00 per game (14:31) in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (54.9%).
Rasmus Sandin
– Ranks 10th among rookie defencemen who have appeared in at least 10 games in points per 60 minutes of ice time (0.92) at 5-on-5. – Has a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 54.1 percent, which ranks fourth among rookie defencemen who have skated in at least 10 games.
Jason Spezza
– Averaging 2.13 points per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which is the fourth-highest average among Toronto skaters who have appeared in at least 40 games.- Averaging 0.83 goals per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which ranks fourth among Maple Leafs who have appeared in at least 40 games.- Averaging 1.30 assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which is the third-highest average among Toronto skaters.
John Tavares
– Tied for 20th among NHL skaters in multi-point games (17).- Has 18 points (8-8-16) in 14 games during the month of February.- Tied for 15th in the NHL in faceoff wins (564)- Had three points (2-1-3) in the first meeting between Toronto and Vancouver on December 10.- Has recorded 12 points (6-6-12) in 11 games against Pacific Division teams.
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
Mitch Marner
Has assists (2) in two consecutive games.
Auston Matthews
Has assists (2) and points (1-2-3) in two consecutive games.
William Nylander
Has goals (2) in two consecutive games and points (3-3-6) in five consecutive games.
Jason Spezza
Has assists (2) in two consecutive games.
John Tavares
Has points (3-3-6) in four consecutive games.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Zach Hyman
Three games from 300 NHL games
Kasperi Kapanen
Three games from 200 NHL games
Mitch Marner
Five games from 300 NHL games
Jason Spezza
One assist from 600 assists
RECENT MILESTONES
William Nylander
300th NHL game (February 22 vs. Carolina)
INJURY REPORT
Cody Ceci (Ankle)
On injured reserve.
Andreas Johnsson (Knee)
On injured reserve.
Ilya Mikheyev (Wrist Laceration)
On injured reserve.
Jake Muzzin (Hand)
Sustained a broken hand on February 25 at Tampa Bay.
Morgan Rielly (Foot)
On injured reserve.
Man Games Lost: 177
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
February 26
Recalled defenceman Calle Rosen from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
February 24
Loaned defenceman Kevin Gravel to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
February 24
Acquired forward Matt Lorito from the New York Islanders in exchange for defenceman Jordan Schmaltz.
February 24
Acquired Vegas’ 2020 fifth-round pick in a three-team trade with Chicago and Vegas in exchange for forward Martins Dzierkals.
February 24
Recalled defenceman Kevin Gravel from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
February 24
Acquired defenceman Calle Rosen from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Michael Hutchinson.
February 22
Acquired forward Miikka Salomaki from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenceman Ben Harpur.
I thought – despite the score, we didn’t hate our start. I thought we had good legs, we had the puck a fair bit, we had some stuff happening in their end. They got the lead on us, obviously, but I just liked how our team wasn’t fazed by it, we were just talking on the bench that there was a lot of game left and we’ve got to stay with it. We were confident we’d get our chances throughout the game and we did. It started with the power play goal – I don’t think it registered as a power play goal, but it is in my eyes and Kappy finished it. I’m starting to lose track of how many games in a row now for Kappy, but he’s playing at a different level for us right now. It’s making a difference.
On tonight’s performance as the type of team defence he wants to see:
I thought so, especially once we settled into the game. In the early going, especially with the seventh defenceman, we were trying to find the right mix and what the mix is going to be and how it’s going to flow. I think when you go with the seven defence like that you just sort of let it evolve. You can’t make too much of a plan, you’ve just got to kind of see. I think it took a little bit of time for that to settle and that helped our team once we did settle it down. The big thing I’ll take away from the game, of course, is just how we didn’t fold. The last time we came in here the game got away on us and today we didn’t let it happen.
On if Kapanen’s recent play is related to being disciplined by the team earlier in the season:
No, I don’t. I think it’s more in response to him recognizing what’s happening in the season and how important it is and how important the games are. He, like a lot of the guys on our team, haven’t been happy with their play or our play as a team. We’ve asked everybody just to give us a little bit more. He’s given us lots.
On the play of Holl and Dermott:
They did an excellent job. Today, they’re matched up against the Barkov line and, I mean, it’s the entire group doing a job against them, but I think that line ends up off the scoresheet and is minus-2 on the night. That was our greatest challenge going into the game, is how we were going to manage players of that level with the defencemen that we were missing, and those guys did an excellent job. Our whole team did. The Matthews line did too good of a job against them from their perspective, so they had to change the matchup and they got away from it and they mixed it up and got Matthews away from them. The other guys we had playing against them, whoever it was, just went out and did the job. Collectively we played well against those guys, I thought. Dermott and Holl dug in. Certainly Tyson Barrie battled hard and did a lot of good things for us today. He’s been doing what we needed him to do.
On if Holl’s empty net goal is a ‘feel-good moment’:
Yeah, it is. For sure. You’re just happy it gets out, first of all. You get a little bit of breathing room. You don’t really think – just the way it leaves his stick – that it’s going to go in and then you see it curve. It’s funny, those empty nets goals work in funny ways. You can get rewarded and I think sometimes the luck just seems to go for you. Deserved for [Holl].
FREDERIK ANDERSEN (23 SAVES)
On what the turning point of tonight’s game was:
I think [Kapanen] had a nice fight and we really responded to that first period. I think the guys came out and played really hard for me. Got that deficit back and huge credit to them. They played a great game.
On the play of the defence:
I think especially in the second and third period they were unbelievable. Even in the first as well, they didn’t really panic or anything once they got their lead and we just kind of kept going. Huge credit to the guys for evening it up that quick.
AUSTON MATTHEWS (1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST)
On tonight’s come-from-behind win:
I think we just tried to stay resilient. Obviously, you get down early in the first, I think you just try to keep your composure and go out there and take it one shift at a time and just claw our way back. Obviously, it came down to the wire.
On what led to his line playing well:
I think we were just taking care of the puck. We were forechecking a little harder. They hold the line well so you’ve kind of got to put the puck in behind them and try and go get it so I thought we did a pretty good job with that. We didn’t force too many pucks. We just worked hard out there and created chances and obviously we were able to capitalize on a couple.
WILLIAM NYLANDER (1 GOAL)
On what led to the Maple Leafs taking over the game in the second period:
I think we got them, they had the far change there, and we were able to – once they got it out – just go right back in the O-zone and spend some heavy shifts in the O-zone, which was good.
On Kapanen’s fight:
When you see that it obviously fires you up and gets you going. It’s great. He’s been able to add a little bit extra to the team, which is great.
On how important it was to spend time in Florida’s end to take pressure of the Maple Leafs defence:
I think our D have been playing great, but obviously it’s great to spend time in the O-zone. I think that’s where we kept their best players out of our D-zone, which helped us a lot.
Does the league allow for an emergency backup defenceman? Is there a 42-year-old sitting in the stands who can skate backwards and chip pucks off the glass? If so, you might want to call Kyle Dubas. The general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs could use all the help he can get these days after […]
Yeah, a lot of things. We get scored on first and we don’t let it snowball. I thought we just gathered ourselves and made a couple little tactical adjustments that the guys caught on to quickly. I thought it turned the game for us in the first period there. So we’ve got ourselves the lead and then gave it up, then came back and built an even bigger lead. Just a lot of really good things. Then the third period, we just have to — you know that they’re going to have a really strong push and it’s important for us to not crack. They get the one and we stayed with it even shorthanded on the back end. Some guys battled really hard. A lot of really positive things for us in terms of winning a close game.
On if he feels a game like tonight is how the team grows:
I certainly do. I’ve said we talked about, it’s that feeling, it’s going through it, it’s finding a way, it’s losing a leader in the back end in Jake Muzzin. Just finding a way to get it done and not cracking. I thought we did a good job. They had a push, they threw a lot of pucks at our net in that third period, but I think if you were to go through it you would see there wasn’t a whole lot of quality in terms of scoring chances or anything like that. The guys did a nice job of protecting the net and Freddie made solid saves and didn’t let anything get in at the end there for us. A lot of really good things — the penalty kill, power play.
On the severity of Muzzin’s injury:
We don’t know. We’re going to have to see how it is here tomorrow and kind of go from there. He obviously wasn’t well enough to return. We’ll give it tonight and get more information tomorrow.
FREDERIK ANDERSEN (26 SAVES)
On the performance of the defence after losing Muzzin for the third period:
Yeah, I thought we did a really good job of just kind of covering up for each other and playing hard. I think throughout the whole group was great today. The PK was great, we generated some offence off of that and some huge momentum and then the power play did their thing, so it was a great game overall.
On Nylander’s goal:
I didn’t see it until after, but it was pretty special. I think it just creates extra reach for him and you don’t really expect it so not everyone can pull that off but good for Willy. It’s pretty.
TYSON BARRIE (2 ASSISTS)
On tonight’s win:
I think it was great. I think we played a really solid game. We had a good response to what happened to us last week. It shows a lot of character in this team, and then having [Muzzin] go down and the guys just kind of battling and grinding out a third period is a really good sign for us.
On what he liked best about tonight’s performance:
I think just the way that we responded to some adversity. We’ve got guys go down and they make a big push in the third, but we don’t break like we have in the past. Everyone just kind of mucked it up there at the end and we got the two points, which is what we need right now.
WILLIAM NYLANDER (1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST)
On his goal:
I didn’t really have time to think, it just kind of happened, but it was a nice to put one in, that’s for sure.
On the play Mitch Marner made to get him the puck:
He had a good stick there and then he waited him out. He put his stick to the inside, so he was able to feed it down to me, which was great because I had some space down there by myself.
On if he was trying to elevate the shot:
Yeah, I can’t really see anything so I’m going by feel. But obviously, yeah, you have to get it up there you want to score. Vasilevskiy is good along the ice, so you’ve got to get it up.
JOHN TAVARES (2 GOALS)
On what he liked about tonight’s win:
Just sticking with it. We didn’t get down. We didn’t get away from the way we needed to play when things didn’t go our way. We did a lot of good things tonight, in terms of the way we want to play the game, to our identity. Also, just this time of year, it’s a battle out there each and every shift. Just staying with it and understanding that it’s not always pretty but just digging in, playing hard, playing as a group, sticking with it, doing what we need to do. It’s one game, so build on it and obviously each game only gets more important as we go.
On how tough it is to see Jake Muzzin suffer an injury:
Yeah, he’s such a key player for us. He’s been playing great. No question it’s a big loss, but at the same time we can’t hang our heads and think ‘why us?’ As a group, collectively, we’ve got to all continue to step up and fill that void and continue to play better. When guys get more opportunity, that’s their chance to take advantage of it, relish it and thrive with it.
Jake Muzzin put the Maple Leafs on the board at 12:48 of the first period. Muzzin has points (3-5-8) in six consecutive games. He has a goal and an assist in two games against the Lightning this season. Four of his six goals have come on the road in 2019-20.
John Tavares scored the second Toronto goal of the game on the power play at 16:42 of the first period before notching the third Maple Leafs goal of the night at 12:25 of the second period. Tonight’s game is his fourth multi-goal and 17th multi-point performance of 2019-20. He has goals (2) in two consecutive games and points (2-2-4) in three consecutive games. He has 17 points (10-7-17) in 17 games against Atlantic Division teams.
William Nylander registered the lone assist on Tavares’ second period goal before scoring the fourth Toronto goal of the game on the power play at 14:21 of the second period. Nylander has points (2-3-5) in four consecutive games. Tonight’s game is his 12th multi-point game of 2019-20. He has 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 31 road games this season.
Jason Spezza registered the primary assist on Muzzin’s first period goal. Spezza has three assists over his last five games. He has registered 16 (5-11-16) of his 24 points on the road this season. He has 56 points (23 goals, 33 assists) in 48 career games against Tampa Bay.
Frederik Gauthier picked up the secondary assist on Muzzin’s first period goal. Gauthier has registered 11 points (6-5-11) in 55 games this season. He has recorded six points (2-4-6) in 19 games against Atlantic Division opposition.
Tyson Barrie recorded the primary assist on Tavares’ first period goal and later had the secondary assist on Nylander’s second period goal. Barrie has assists (4) in two consecutive games. Tonight’s game is his seventh multi-assist and 11th multi-point game of 2019-20. His seven multi-assist games are tied for the eighth-most among NHL defencemen.
Auston Matthews had the secondary assist on Tavares’ first period goal. Matthews has three points (1-2-3) over his last four games. His first period assist gives him 74 points (43 goals, 31 assists), which establishes a new single-season career-high for points, surpassing his previous high of 73 established in 2018-19. He has 20 points (12-8-20) in 20 games against Atlantic Division opposition.
Mitch Marner registered the primary assist on Nylander’s second period goal. Marner has two assists over his last three games. He has two assists in two games against Tampa Bay in 2019-20. In 23 road games this season, he has recorded 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists). He ranks ninth among NHLers in assists (47) and tied for eighth among NHLers in primary assists (30).
Frederik Andersen stopped 26 shots to earn the victory.
The Maple Leafs went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 2-for-4 on the power play tonight.
Travis Dermott and Kasperi Kapanen were on the ice for a team-high 13 shot attempts at 5-on-5 tonight. Dermott finished the game with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 54.2 (13 for, 11 against), while Kapanen had a team-high 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 61.9 percent (13 for, 8 against).
Auston Matthews won 60 percent (3 won, 2 lost) of his defensive zone faceoffs.
Jake Muzzin (Hand) left tonight’s game and did not return.
John Tavares was 3-for-5 (60%) in the faceoff circle when taking offensive zone draws.
UPCOMING GAMES:
Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. at Florida Panthers (TSN4, FAN 590)
Saturday, February 29, 7:00 p.m. vs. Vancouver Canucks (Sportsnet, TSN 1050)
Tuesday, March 3, 10:30 p.m. at San Jose Sharks (Sportsnet Ontario, FAN 590)
Thursday, March 5, 10:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Kings (Sportsnet Ontario, TSN 1050
Friday, March 6, 10:00 p.m. at Anaheim Ducks (TSN4, TSN 1050)
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