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Meetings between the Leafs and Senators in recent seasons have typically been high scoring, back-and-forth affairs, particularly at the Air Canada Center.

After an inability to score in opening two games versus Montreal and Detroit, the Senators were just what the doctor ordered for the Leafs from the offensive standpoint — the Leafs were riding a six game winning streak versus the Senators at the ACC during which they scored 24 goals (4/game).

A good first period in which the Leafs carried the play and generated 16 shots on goal gave way to penalty trouble, and an inability to kill said penalties, starting with Brad Boyes’ slashing infraction late in the first. After a nonthreatening first 1:35 to the powerplay, the Leafs overloaded the left side the zone and had no one home in front, with both Hunwick and Phaneuf in the same corner, and after failing to get the puck up the boards and out, Kyle Turris was all alone in the slot to make it 1-0. No chance for Reimer.

The Leafs took four penalties in ten minutes in the middle of the game, and the Senators made them pay dearly. The second powerplay goal against happened just a few seconds into the 5 on 4 as Alex Chiasson was sprung on a breakway coming out of the box. Nazem Kadri turned the puck over in the offensive zone while Roman Polak, unaware of Reimer signalling the man coming out of the box, attempted to join the rush and was caught up ice.

PA Parenteau took an extremely undisciplined penalty just seconds later, as Chris Neil had been lipping him on the previous draw and Parenteau took the chance to take a shot at his head along the boards. The Leafs lost several 50-50 puck races and battles on that penalty kill and eventually paid for it after an Erik Karlsson rebound was knocked in by Milan Michalek, who had far too much time and space in front of the Leaf net.

The Senators went out to a multi-goal lead in Buffalo the other night, instantly sat back on it, and were fortunate to walk away with the win, saved by a coaches challenge after the Sabres stormed back to tie it. They fell into a similar trap last night, and the Leafs came back strong.

The Winnik and Spaling line was reasonably effective at 5v5, largely matched up against the Ottawa top line of Hoffman, Turris and Stone, and found some success digging out pucks on the forecheck and generating offense. On a play started by a smart read in the neutral zone by Matt Hunwick, a hard forecheck by Daniel Winnik caused a turnover out of Peter Wiercioch which Joffrey Lupul pounced on, finding a hole in Anderson for the Leafs’ first goal in five periods.

Winnik and Spaling finished the night in the low 30s for possession, but started only 15-17% of their shifts in the offensive zone, as Babcock continues to lean on that pair for defensive assignments.

The Leafs continued their comeback after a great stretch pass by Dion Phaneuf sent Tyler Bozak on a breakaway – where he made no mistake – pulling the Leafs within one seven minutes later.

A powerplay goal to start the third by Peter Holland, who was long overdue given some of the chances he’s had in the first three games of the season, tied the game in the early third, as Holland pulled off the JvR move from in tight to the side of the net. Phaneuf grabbed his second assist of the game and his third of the young season on Holland’s goal, a positive offensive start for the Captain after finishing below 30 points for the first time in his career in a 60+ game season.

The Leafs fell behind again half way through the third after they lost their shape following a lost draw in the defensive zone – Roman Polak ended up chasing the point up high and Martin Marincin couldn’t tie up Mark Stone in front, as that line continues to wage damage in the early season.

The Leafs had some life left in them yet, as Brad Boyes made a pass from his knees off the boards to set up Winnik, who showed refreshing poise around the net after two games of watching the Leafs jam pucks into goalie pads and chest protectors like it was their day job.

That tying goal meant we got our first look at three-on-three overtime when it counts in the standings. Initially, the two sides tentatively felt each other out, trying not to make a mistake for the first shift, but as soon as line changes or one scoring chance happens, it’s a full-out back-and-forth track meet, as designed. Coaches will try, no doubt, but the chaos is unavoidable, and really a hell of a lot of fun.

A couple of great saves by Craig Anderson and James Reimer preserved the tie, and it was off to shootout. Brad Boyes is one of the best shooters in the history of the shootout, but the Leafs opted to send out PA Parenteau (scored), Joffrey Lupul (crossbar), and Tyler Bozak (missed left). Hoffman and Ryan beat Reimer to take the extra point.


Shot Location Chart

shotlocationchartleafssens


 

Toronto Maples Leafs vs Ottawa Senators Boxscore

NO.PLAYERPOSGAPSPP TOISH TOITOI
2M. HunwickD00010:004:4921:30
3D. PhaneufD02251:574:0924:22
15P. ParenteauR01101:320:009:00
16N. SpalingC01110:006:0219:41
19J. LupulL10122:440:0016:01
21J. van RiemsdykL00043:020:0019:56
24P. HollandC10112:230:0611:51
26D. WinnikC10130:006:1419:27
28B. BoyesR01122:230:0517:39
33M. ArcobelloR00011:510:009:53
40M. GrabnerR00010:002:0811:47
42T. BozakC10123:020:3519:06
43N. KadriC00062:410:0716:06
44M. RiellyD00023:202:4622:39
46R. PolakD00000:004:0120:44
47L. KomarovC00040:002:1315:35
51J. GardinerD00040:100:0018:35
52M. MarincinD00020:001:4514:27
Toronto Maples Leafs vs Ottawa Senators Oct. 10th, 2015 Boxscore

All Situations Possession Chart

chart (6)


Player Possession Stats – Senators 5 vs. Leafs 4 (SO)

NamePositionCorsi ForCorsi AgainstCorsiCorsi For%Zone Start%
MATT HUNWICKD1914557.58%50%
DION PHANEUFD28151365.12%40%
PIERRE-ALEXANDRE PARENTEAUR65154.55%50%
NICK SPALINGC1215-344.44%30%
JOFFREY LUPULR1116-540.74%30%
JAMES VAN RIEMSDYKL3172481.58%62.50%
PETER HOLLANDC106462.50%80%
DANIEL WINNIKC1316-344.83%30%
BRAD BOYESR1817151.43%63.64%
MARK ARCOBELLOR76153.85%33.33%
JAMES REIMERG67472058.77%51.61%
MICHAEL GRABNERR611-535.29%100%
TYLER BOZAKC3072381.08%62.50%
NAZEM KADRIC1417-345.16%63.64%
MORGAN RIELLYD2014658.82%50%
ROMAN POLAKD1417-345.16%66.67%
LEO KOMAROVC2762181.82%62.50%
JAKE GARDINERD30121871.43%54.55%
MARTIN MARINCIND1314-148.15%50%

 

Mike Babcock Post Game


 

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