Author: SFDI

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By Neil Becker

Rookie Toronto Maple Leafs backup Joseph Woll is proving to be a solid NHL goaltender.

Coming off a 20 save performance in shutting out the New York Islanders, Woll was once again money as he made 34 saves in leading the Leafs to a Friday night 4-1 road win against the San Jose Sharks.

The Leafs, who have started their three game California road swing with wins against the Los Angeles Kings and now the Sharks, have been simply dominant this month as they have posted an 11-3 record in November.  Sporting an impressive 15-6-1 overall record, Toronto has now pulled into a tie with the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Looking to get payback for a 5-3 October loss to San Jose at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto’s offence was led this time around by two- point performances from forwards William Nylander and John Tavares.

Toronto, who have now won eight of their last nine didn’t waste time getting on the board as Nylander opened the scoring with his eighth goal 32 seconds into regulation on former Leafs goalie James Reimer.

San Jose, who came into Friday nights action sporting an impressive 5-3-1 home record, didn’t waste time in making it a brand- new game as veteran forward Nick Bonino scored his second of the season at the 4:44 mark to make it a brand- new game.

However, things didn’t stay tied for long as Wayne Simmons, who has been snake bit for a lot of the year, scored his second of the season 5:16 into the first on a text book deflection which put the Leafs ahead 2-1 heading to the second.

Showing that killer instinct the Leafs fired 11 second period shots and took control on the scoreboard as Austin Matthews scored 4:57 in with his ninth goal. Generating all sorts of chances, Toronto was once again rewarded when less than six minutes Tavares rounded out the scoring with his 10^th which came on the power play.

The red-hot Leafs will be looking to complete the three game California road swing sweep on Sunday night with an 8 p.m. puck drop against the Anaheim Ducks.

 

Game Summary

First Period

0;32 William Nylander (8), John Tavares (10), Morgan Rielly (11)      Tor 1   San Jose 0

4;44 Nick Bonino (2), Noah Gregor (1), Erik Karlsson (8),                    Tor 1  San Jose 1

5:16   Wayne Simmons (2), David Kampf (4), Nick Ritchie (4),            Tor 2 San Jose 1

 

Second Period

4:57 Austin Matthews (9), Michael Bunting (7), Timothy Liljegren   Tor 3 San Jose 1

10:44 PPG John Tavares (10), William Nylander (11), Mitch Marner (12) Tor 4 San Jose 1

Third Period

 No Scoring 

 

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By Jordan Laroche

The New York Rangers survive a strong early surge by the Boston Bruins to win 5-2.

Both teams came into this Thanksgiving Special strong, the Rangers having won four of their last five, and the Bruins winning three of their last five.

The Bruins opened the scoring Friday afternoon with Craig Smith forcing a turnover at the Rangers blueline and burying it past Igor Shesterkin. Boston seemed to have all the momentum before Ryan Strome got open in the slot and putting it past Jeremy Swayman off a nifty feed from Artemi Panarin.

But as the second period commenced, it was more of the same as Boston held a 23-9 shot advantage halfway through the period. Patrice Bergeron capitalized on a wide-open tip in, in front of the net as it looked like Boston was taking a hold of the game. The Rangers seemed to have flipped a switch after the goal as Dryden Hunt scored his second of the year off a juicy rebound from Swayman’s left pad.

The Rangers continued to battle back as they clawed back in the shot count finishing the period with 24 shots to Boston’s 29.

The Ranger’s persistence came through in the third period as it seemed they outlasted the Bruins as Artemi Panarin was found open in front of the net by Julien Gauthier. Gauthier has been having a recent coming out party, he has seemed to have earned a more permanent spot in the lineup and taken his game to a new level after being a regular scratch earlier this season.

Alexis Lafreniere was the benefactor of another strong play by Gauthier as he beat Jakub Zboril to a loose puck in the neutral zone creating a two on one for him and Lafreniere. But Boston wasn’t going away, after Panarin’s goal they would have the next four shots on net and continued to keep the Rangers in their own end. Igor Shesterkin would make a series of saves to close out the game before Jacob Trouba scored on the empty net.

After a lot of tinkering with their third line, Gerard Gallant seems to have found a group that can generate offense consistently and keep possession. Alexis Lafreniere-Filip Chytil-Julien Gauthier are all quick players with a lot of skill and seem to have good chemistry playing together.

Box Score:

1^st period

Craig Smith (2)

Ryan Strome (3) – Artemi Panarin (16) Dryden Hunt (2)

2^nd period

Patrice Bergeron (8) – Matt Gryzelcyk (3) Brad Marchand (14)

Dryden Hunt (2) – Ryan Lindgren (2) Adam Fox (16)

3^rd period

Aertemi Panarin (5) – Julien Gauthier (2) Ryan Strome (11)

Alexis Lafreniere (5) – Julien Gauthier (3) Adam Fox (17)

Jacob Trouba (3)

 

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By Neil Becker

 

The Toronto Maple Leafs offence showed just how explosive it can be.

Setting a tone for their three game California road swing, the Leafs erupted with four second period goals as they cruised to a 6-2 win on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center.

In giving the many Leafs fans, including singer Justin Bieber lots to cheer about, the offence saw forwards John Tavares, Austin Matthew along with fourth liner Pierre Engvall have two point performances.

Leafs management had to be especially happy for Engvall’s goal as it was his first since opening night back in October against the Montreal Canadiens. It was also his first multi-point game in his career.

Toronto, who back on November 8^th dropped a 5-1 home decision against the Kings, got another solid performance from starting goalie and former Los Angeles King, Jack Campbell who stopped 30 shots.

Early in regulation Toronto generated several scoring opportunities and were rewarded when forward Alex Kerfoot scored inside of five minutes for a 1-0 lead. Overall, the Leafs had 15 first period shots but couldn’t build on that lead.

Los Angeles, who have now dropped their first four of a seven game homestand, capitalized with an early second period power play goal to temporarily tie things up.

The game’s turning point came shortly afterwards when starting at the 3:19 mark, Toronto’s offence struck for four straight goals in just over a 12- minute span to break things open. Scoring first was Engvall followed by Tavares, Matthews and at the 15:36 mark, Jason Spezza on the power play to make it a 5-1 game.

Toronto’s offence was once again rewarded as Michael Bunting capitalized with his 5^th, as Toronto would go on to start that three game California road swing with a big two points.

The Leafs next game is Friday, November 26^th against the San Jose Sharks with puck drop scheduled for 10:30 p.m.  

   SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST PERIOD

4:30 Alexander Kerfoot (3) Ondrej Kase (3), Wayne Simmons (4) 1-0 Toronto over LA

 

SECOND PERIOD

 1:21 PPG- Viktor Arvidsson (3) Sean Durzi (1^st), Anze Kopitar (10)     Toronto 1 LA 1

 3 :19   Pierre Engvall (2) Wayne Simmons (5), Rasmus Sandin (5) Toronto 2 LA 1

 5:26    John Tavares (9) William Nylander (10), T.J. Brodie (4)            Toronto 3 LA 1

  13:16 Austin Matthews (8), John Tavares (9), T.J. Brodie (5)           Toronto 4 LA 1

  15 :36 PPG Jason Spezza (4) Rasmus Sandin (6), Pierre Engvall (4)    Toronto 5 LA 1

 

THIRD PERIOD

 3:59 Michael Bunting (5) Rasmus Sandin (7), Austin Matthews (9)   Toronto 6 LA 1

  16:07 PPG Sean Durzi (1) Viktor Arvidsson (4), Adrian Kempe (5)      Toronto 6 LA 2