The Toronto Maple Leafs received a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Membership on Sunday night time, extending their successful streak to 4 video games. With a strong second interval, the Maple Leafs got here again from down a objective to take a two-goal lead.
Toronto held on via some strong Utah stress and escaped on high. Mitch Marner led the cost with two targets throughout an offensive surge that turned the sport round.
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This win got here within the first-ever assembly between Toronto and Utah and marked the one NHL sport scheduled final night time. William Nylander scored his 14th objective, including to Marner’s standout efficiency.
Merchandise One: Joseph Woll Robust Run, Wins Fourth Straight
The excellent news within the goalie division is that Joseph Woll has been a standout for the Maple Leafs. Final night time was his fourth straight win, making 23 saves on 25 pictures and permitting the primary and final targets of the sport. Over his final 4 begins, Woll has been exceptionally dependable, posting a 2.00 goals-against common (GAA) and a .921 save share, conceding simply six targets on 104 pictures.
Woll’s consistency and strong contributions from backup Anthony Stolarz have supplied the Maple Leafs with reliable goaltending this season – a few of the greatest within the NHL. This duo has been a key to the group’s success as they proceed to work via accidents. They’ll doubtless every play one sport through the group’s difficult two-game highway stretch towards the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning this week.
Merchandise Two: Mitch Marner Is Serving to to Carry His Staff
Mitch Marner continues to point out his elite ability. One optimistic factor that may doubtless not be overstated is that the season is about his on-ice efficiency and the distractions of a contract settlement have been parked within the storage. In Sunday’s win, Marner scored two targets, together with one on the ability play. Over the previous eight video games, satirically coinciding with Auston Matthews’ absence, Marner has stepped as much as register six targets and eight assists. His constant playmaking and puck motion have been necessary to the group’s offensive success. He’s been a special-teams demon.
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His 28 factors in 21 video games embrace 12 on the ability play. Though he’s come shut earlier than, the 27-year-old winger is on a simple tempo for the primary 100-point season of his profession. Marner has additionally put up 11 multi-point video games this season, second within the league solely to Kirill Kaprizov.
Merchandise Three: William Nylander Leads the Maple Leafs with 14 Objectives
William Nylander continues to say himself as the middle of the Maple Leafs’ offence. Towards Utah, he scored his 14th objective and added a power-play help. Actually, Nylander has notched one objective and one help in 4 of his final six video games. He’s additionally registered a power-play level in every sport. Via 21 video games, the 28-year-old has 14 targets, 10 assists, and 76 pictures on web.
Whereas Nylander’s 18.4 taking pictures share may recommend a slight regression, he’s nonetheless more likely to pump in 40 targets once more. He’s performed it two occasions earlier than. However, even when he doesn’t, his level whole will develop. He’s proven extra means to “Marner the puck,” which implies he’s seeing the ice higher this season than ever earlier than. His play, scoring or not, creates possibilities that make him a helpful asset to the group.
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Sunday’s sport additionally featured a historic second for the Nylander household, as William shared the ice together with his brother Alex. This marks the thirteenth time brothers have performed in a sport for the Maple Leafs. Alex made his Toronto debut after being known as up from the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Toronto Marlies, even seeing time on the ability play together with his brother through the first interval. This distinctive pairing gave followers (together with me) a bit extra pleasure. How good would it not be to see them each turn into affect gamers because the season continues?
Merchandise 4: Fraser Minten Reveals Up Once more
Fraser Minten has been a very good match. He added a power-play help, marking his second level in as many video games since being known as up. The 20-year-old ahead didn’t register any factors throughout his first 4 NHL video games final season. Nonetheless, he’s taken benefit of his current probability, filling in for accidents to Toronto’s ahead group.
Regardless of his success, followers ought to anticipate Minten’s time within the NHL to be brief. He’ll doubtless be returned to the Marlies when Matthews (higher physique) and/or Max Domi (decrease physique) return to the roster to proceed his growth within the AHL. Nonetheless, his current video games have established his means to contribute on the NHL degree.
What’s Subsequent for the Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs now embark on a brief highway journey, with video games towards the Panthers on Wednesday and Lightning on Saturday. Matthews, who missed his eighth sport on account of an upper-body damage, is rumoured to be nearing a return, which may additional increase the group.
Toronto’s stability, even with out key gamers, highlights their depth. It additionally in all probability exhibits how a lot simpler it’s for kids and depth gamers to prosper once they have an comprehensible system to suit into. Give credit score to go coach Craig Berube and the remainder of the teaching workers for offering that system.
