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In their first game back from the-All Star break, Toronto had a disastrous start to the third period, with two goals against in less than thirty seconds leaving them a hill to climb.

They had a great answer, though, scoring twice in three minutes to draw level and send the game to overtime. The Leafs then converted on the powerplay in the extra frame and snapped a four-game losing streak in the process.

The Leafs built a big early lead in Corsi, and while Boston were able to eat into that advantage, Toronto stayed ahead the whole game. The chances were pretty even between the two sides, with Toronto’s overtime chances propelling them to a small overall advantage. Boston had the better of the neutral zone, but the Leafs were more efficient at entering with control; the two teams had a similar raw number of controlled entries.

TeamChances1st2nd3rdOTESESCloseESCh%NZEnt%ContEnt
Tor226673161057.1%44.5%43.9%
Bos18765012842.9%55.5%36.6%

The two teams exchanged runs throughout the game. Boston had five straight chances, including the opening goal. Toronto responded with six straight in the second, including the equalizer. After closing the second well, and taking the lead early in the third, Boston lost their edge in the game, with the Leafs getting nine of the last ten chances, including three goals.

PeriodTimeSTSOTeamHowStateT1T2T3T4T5T6O1O2O3O4O5O6
118:1400TorWinnik from SpalingES31620232634113940444851
116:4900BosTalbot drivesES192534465156252936404786
113:5300TorMatthias drives wideES22326344456113339405162
113:0500TorKadri drivesES192534434651252936404448
112:0900BosSpooner from KrejciSH234404656213740464751
111:1200BosKrejci post from KrugSH23344056213740464751
110:2500BosHayes from BeleskeyES31534404244113339406386
110:2300BosGOAL! Marchand from reboundES31534404244113339406386
108:5601BosSpooner drivesES32023263443113940475186
106:2801TorBozak from RiellyPP1519233442443337406386
106:2701TorMatthias from reboundPP1519233442443337406386
106:2601TorBozak from reboundPP1519233442443337406386
101:2001BosBergeron wide from CharaSH225344647213337404751
218:5201BosEriksson from reboundES31520344042214046478688
216:2801BosFerraro drives wideES31920253456252936404448
213:3401TorMatthias drivesES31620232634113940475186
210:5601TorClune from FroeseES31920253456293640444851
210:0401TorGOAL! Winnik deflects Polak shotES22326344346143740476386
209:1711TorGrabner drivesES31520344042213340444688
208:2211TorKadri from HollandES21924344344143337406263
208:2111TorKadri from reboundES21924344344143337406263
205:1711BosSpooner from loose puckES21519344244113940475186
203:4111BosSpooner drivesSH234404647213740464751
203:2311BosSpooner from KrugSH234404647213740464751
202:5211BosKrug wide from SpoonerSH2634444656213740464751
319:0511BosGOAL! Marchand from KrejciES21623263444404446486388
318:4112BosKrug post from PastrnakES31520344042214046478688
318:3912BosGOAL! Krejci from reboundES31520344042214046478688
315:0313TorLupul from loose puckES31925345156214046474888
314:4313BosTalbot from FerraroES31920253456252936404486
312:1813TorKadri drivesES23440434447143337406263
312:1613TorGrabner from reboundES23440434447143337406263
311:0513TorGrabner from reboundES263440434451214046476288
310:5813TorGOAL! Komarov deflects Rielly shotES344043444647214046476288
310:3223BosChara drivesES23440434447143337406263
308:2923TorGOAL! Kadri deflects Hunwick shotES23440434447143337406263
304:2333TorKadri wide from loose puckES23440434447143337406263
403:2033TorWinnik wide from KadriES219264339404662
401:5633TorGardiner from KadriPP153443475133374044
401:5433TorGOAL! Parenteau from reboundPP153443475133374044

Leafs Player Data

PlayerESChFESChAESCh%ESTOIZS%NZ%ContEntOppContEnt
Holland20100.0%10:0480.0%35.7%50.0%27.8%
Kadri10283.3%15:4836.4%51.2%71.4%35.0%
Komarov5183.3%12:5522.2%57.6%63.2%21.4%
Winnik5271.4%15:1946.2%38.7%33.3%36.8%
Spaling2166.7%09:1042.9%37.0%30.0%23.5%
Matthias4266.7%13:4346.2%38.7%41.7%31.6%
Lupul5455.6%10:4344.4%44.8%30.8%43.8%
Grabner7653.8%13:1637.5%55.9%42.1%46.7%
Clune3350.0%07:4816.7%43.5%30.0%38.5%
Froese3350.0%10:5228.6%40.0%16.7%50.0%
Parenteau1614.3%11:4666.7%39.5%33.3%39.1%
Bozak1614.3%15:0350.0%45.5%40.0%38.9%
Polak3175.0%14:1550.0%43.9%27.8%39.1%
Gardiner3175.0%13:5557.1%46.2%38.9%38.1%
Hunwick8372.7%19:5511.8%43.4%47.8%30.0%
Rielly9564.3%18:0718.8%47.9%47.8%28.0%
Corrado4640.0%12:5072.7%43.3%46.2%41.2%
Phaneuf5838.5%19:3871.4%41.9%50.0%48.0%

It was a spectacular night from Nazem Kadri, scoring the equalizing goal while being on for ten Leaf chances, the best on the team. He finished at +8 in chance differential, one of the best performances for any Leaf this year. Kadri also led the way in controlled entries, rarely entering without control and winning the neutral zone effectively. He had a lot of offensive success without Leo Komarov, and he had good shifts with Joffrey Lupul as well. Komarov still finished with a strong night, at +4. Peter Holland, who was shifted on to that line, was the only Leaf not on for a single chance against.

The pairing of Tyler Bozak and P.A. Parenteau were the only Leaf forwards to finish below even in chances, as they matched up poorly against the Krejci line.

The defensive pairings have been shifted around, and it was a decent night for the duo of Jake Gardiner and Roman Polak. They mostly avoided the top two lines and weren’t on for many chances either way. Matt Hunwick and Morgan Rielly had a great night, as they teamed with Kadri against Bergeron’s line and managed to finish clearly in the positive in chances. Frank Corrado was partnered with Dion Phaneuf, and they were given the softest zone starts. Phaneuf did get some more minutes with other pairings down the stretch, but still ended up the worst of the defence in chances.