Toronto extended its strong recent run with a win over Calgary.
After exchanging goals in the first two periods, Toronto took the lead early in the third, and then added a couple of late scores to extend the advantage to three. Toronto has won four of their last five games as the young Leafs have started to find their footing.
| Team | Chances | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ES | ESClose | ESCh% | NZEnt% | ContEnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tor | 16 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 47.4% | 48.5% | 33.3% |
| Cgy | 15 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 52.6% | 51.5% | 34.3% |
Toronto led in possession for most of the game, but didn’t show the same domination in the other metrics. They were basically even with the Flames in chances, as well as in zone entries, with Calgary making up a deficit in controlled entries as they pushed for an equalizer.
After Toronto started well, Calgary had a big push early in the second period, before Toronto responded with a couple of solid powerplay stretches. Toronto were able to hold onto their lead in the last ten minutes, allowing only a couple of chances, although the Flames did threaten to equalize with a strong run midway through the frame.
| Period | Time | ST | SO | Team | How | State | T1 | T2 | T3 | T4 | T5 | T6 | O1 | O2 | O3 | O4 | O5 | O6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15:42 | 0 | 0 | Tor | Smith wide from rebound | ES | 8 | 23 | 26 | 38 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 26 | 33 | 67 |
| 1 | 12:25 | 0 | 0 | Tor | Nylander wide from Leivo | PP | 15 | 23 | 32 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 26 | 64 | |
| 1 | 08:33 | 0 | 0 | Tor | GOAL! Parenteau from Nylander | ES | 11 | 15 | 20 | 29 | 39 | 45 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 79 | 93 |
| 1 | 04:34 | 1 | 0 | Cgy | Monahan from Gaudreau | ES | 18 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 27 | 64 |
| 2 | 19:35 | 1 | 0 | Cgy | Gaudreau drives | ES | 18 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 23 | 27 |
| 2 | 17:14 | 1 | 0 | Tor | Rielly from Grabner | SH | 26 | 40 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 27 | |
| 2 | 17:06 | 1 | 0 | Cgy | Colborne drives | SH | 26 | 40 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 27 | |
| 2 | 16:27 | 1 | 0 | Cgy | Colborne from Gaudreau | SH | 26 | 40 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 27 | ||
| 2 | 15:56 | 1 | 0 | Cgy | Gaudreau from Hamilton | SH | 26 | 40 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 27 | ||
| 2 | 14:53 | 1 | 0 | Cgy | Colborne from loose puck | SH | 16 | 45 | 51 | 52 | 54 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 27 | |
| 2 | 14:45 | 1 | 0 | Cgy | Colborne from Hamilton | SH | 26 | 40 | 45 | 51 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 27 | |
| 2 | 13:45 | 1 | 0 | Tor | Nylander from Hyman | ES | 11 | 15 | 20 | 29 | 39 | 45 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 67 |
| 2 | 13:31 | 1 | 0 | Tor | Greening from rebound | PP | 16 | 18 | 38 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 23 | |
| 2 | 09:53 | 1 | 0 | Tor | Nylander post from Parenteau | PP | 15 | 23 | 32 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 23 | |
| 2 | 05:34 | 1 | 1 | Tor | GOAL! Hyman deflects Nylander shot | ES | 8 | 11 | 15 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 26 | 33 | 67 |
| 2 | 04:27 | 2 | 1 | Tor | Nylander wide from Parenteau | PP | 15 | 23 | 32 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 67 | |
| 2 | 04:09 | 2 | 1 | Tor | Leivo wide from Laich | PP | 15 | 23 | 32 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 67 | |
| 2 | 03:57 | 2 | 1 | Tor | Nylander from Laich | PP | 15 | 23 | 32 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 67 | |
| 2 | 02:39 | 2 | 1 | Cgy | Hamilton drives wide | ES | 11 | 26 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 54 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 93 |
| 2 | 02:28 | 2 | 1 | Cgy | GOAL! Colborne deflects Giordano shot | ES | 11 | 26 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 54 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 93 |
| 2 | 01:52 | 2 | 2 | Tor | Nylander drives wide | ES | 11 | 15 | 20 | 29 | 39 | 45 | 1 | 18 | 26 | 33 | 52 | 64 |
| 3 | 16:34 | 3 | 2 | Tor | Hyman drives | ES | 11 | 15 | 20 | 29 | 39 | 45 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 33 | 79 |
| 3 | 15:53 | 3 | 2 | Tor | Grabner from Rielly | ES | 18 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 23 | 33 |
| 3 | 15:37 | 3 | 2 | Tor | Rielly form loose puck | ES | 18 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 23 | 33 |
| 3 | 15:31 | 3 | 2 | Cgy | Gaudreau from Monahan | ES | 16 | 32 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 27 | 67 |
| 3 | 14:41 | 3 | 2 | Cgy | Monahan from loose puck | ES | 18 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 27 | 79 |
| 3 | 12:59 | 3 | 2 | Cgy | Frolik wide from Jokkipakka | ES | 8 | 11 | 15 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 67 |
| 3 | 10:46 | 3 | 2 | Cgy | Jokkipakka from Backlund | ES | 8 | 18 | 38 | 43 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 67 |
| 3 | 04:22 | 3 | 2 | Tor | Grabner drives | ES | 18 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 27 | 93 |
| 3 | 04:13 | 3 | 2 | Cgy | Hamilton wide from Gaudreau | ES | 18 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 27 | 93 |
| 3 | 03:55 | 3 | 2 | Cgy | Ferland from loose puck | ES | 23 | 26 | 38 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 79 |
Leafs Player Data
| Player | ESChF | ESChA | ESCh% | ESTOI | ZS% | NZ% | ConEnt | OppConEnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parenteau | 5 | 1 | 83.3% | 12:19 | 54.6% | 48.6% | 47.1% | 27.8% |
| Nylander | 5 | 1 | 83.3% | 12:20 | 54.6% | 50.0% | 50.0% | 27.8% |
| Hyman | 5 | 3 | 62.5% | 14:14 | 54.6% | 53.8% | 47.6% | 38.9% |
| Laich | 1 | 1 | 50.0% | 10:55 | 12.5% | 50.0% | 28.6% | 21.4% |
| Grabner | 3 | 4 | 42.9% | 11:14 | 37.5% | 47.2% | 23.5% | 31.6% |
| Michalek | 3 | 5 | 37.5% | 10:58 | 42.9% | 44.1% | 26.7% | 42.1% |
| Kadri | 3 | 6 | 33.3% | 12:31 | 42.9% | 40.5% | 26.7% | 40.9% |
| Greening | 1 | 2 | 33.3% | 11:30 | 12.5% | 42.4% | 28.6% | 31.6% |
| Smith | 1 | 3 | 25.0% | 13:29 | 11.1% | 52.6% | 30.0% | 22.2% |
| Gauthier | 0 | 2 | 0.0% | 10:10 | 28.6% | 55.2% | 25.0% | 46.2% |
| Brown | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 07:55 | 33.3% | 52.4% | 27.3% | 50.0% |
| Leivo | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 08:19 | 33.3% | 47.8% | 27.3% | 41.7% |
| Corrado | 4 | 0 | 100.0% | 12:10 | 30.8% | 55.2% | 50.0% | 23.1% |
| Valiev | 4 | 0 | 100.0% | 11:55 | 30.8% | 51.6% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| Gardiner | 2 | 1 | 66.7% | 18:26 | 36.4% | 42.9% | 37.5% | 25.0% |
| Carrick | 2 | 2 | 50.0% | 13:01 | 40.0% | 44.2% | 42.1% | 33.3% |
| Rielly | 3 | 8 | 27.3% | 16:19 | 44.4% | 53.2% | 24.0% | 45.5% |
| Marincin | 3 | 9 | 25.0% | 18:09 | 40.0% | 47.3% | 19.2% | 41.4% |
After some early struggles in terms of chances, William Nylander has come into his own in the last week, including a three-point game on Monday. His line, alongside Zach Hyman and P.A. Parenteau, was key to the Leafs‘ success as the only unit to outchance the opposition. Nylander’s line also led in controlled entries, a feat normally reserved for Nazem Kadri’s line. It will be interesting to see how Nylander will fare against two powerful, skilled centers in Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler on Thursday — a stiff test and a good learning opportunity.
For his part, Kadri, alongside Milan Michalek and Michael Grabner, were matched up against Johnny Gaudreau. While they did produce a few chances, they were clearly outchanced, and were the worst defensive line.
The other two lines had quiet nights, with just one chance produced between them.
Frank Corrado and Rinat Valiev had a strong game together, mostly playing against Matt Stajan and his line. Neither man was on for a chance against, and they had several good shifts with William Nylander’s line. Boht finished at +4. The top pairing of Morgan Rielly and Martin Marincin, who matched up against Gaudreau, had a tough game from a defensive perspective, on together for eight of the Leafs‘ ten ES changes against.
