This wasn’t a chance to make things right, but rather, to provide some sliver of hope in the character aspect of our team—s game. Or at least, something like that.
1 — The Leafs are 32-34-8 and the Leafs aren’t able to sweep the season series against the Isles.
2 — Good work by Bozak around the net not just with the pass, but his work around the net before the final pass. Kessel doesn’t miss those ones. The Thrill tied a career high with his 36th goal of the season on that play.
3 — John Tavares makes the Leafs pay after Gardiner tries to step up on the blueline, Tavares goes in behind him, that creates a 2 on 1 opportunity, No. 91 makes a pretty pass to Bailey and it—s a tie game. Just like that.
4 — Reimer makes a big stop at the start of the second, Crabb takes too long to get a shot off, gets blocked, Grabner takes it up ice, makes a drop pass to Ullstrom, who gets stoned by Optimus. Reimer made another big save just seconds after and we score on the other end.
5 — Good cycle in the offensive zone, Lombardi gets the puck behind the net and puts a backhander past Nabokov for the lead. That goal was all Reimer as he made up for a bad change that could have easily resulted in an Islanders goal.
6 — A pretty disciplined game by both sides as the first penalty coming just short of the half game mark, it was one on Luke Schenn, for clearing his guy in front of the net. A penalty which I didn—t really understand was probably for the shot right after he nailed Grabner to the ice. The penalty was successfully killed.
7 — After Komisarek mishandles the puck, Grabner and Ullstrom combined once again. Grabner makes a sweet pass and we were tied again. Amazing pass that.
8 — Huge goal line save by Reimer on another Leafs PK (Grabovski hook) which kept the game tied. Unfortunately, Matt Moulson capitalizes on the fourth Isles PP (delay of game) after some great work by John Tavares. Parenteau scores on a breakaway after yet another wild play by Phaneuf to put this one to bed. Oh, and empty netter by the same guy…
9 — Unsurprisingly, if you remove two top six forwards from a team not making the playoffs, that team will have trouble generating shots. The Leafs generated just 12 shots by the middle of the third period followed line after the low number of shots generated against the Bruins.
10 — Yep, a better effort than against the Bruins, but that isn’t really saying much, is it?
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