Contemplating these two groups solely meet twice per season, it was a bodily affair on Wednesday night time between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vegas Golden Knights at Scotiabank Enviornment.
The depleted Maple Leafs, who had tapped into their AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies for some much-needed depth, managed to get the job achieved beating the Golden Knights 3-0 on the again of a 31-save shutout by Joseph Woll.
With so many regulars out of the lineup on one facet, these headlines took a backseat to the efforts that each groups put in on Wednesday night time with some newcomers taking cost for the Maple Leafs — whereas one other younger participant left the sport early for the blue and white.
With that, right here’s how the sport unfolded between the Maple Leafs and the Golden Knights.
Grebenkin, Minten Make Their Season Debuts
With Auston Matthews, Max Domi, David Kämpf and others on the shelf with numerous accidents, each Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin received the decision to make their season debuts. For Minten, it was his fifth NHL sport — having performed 4 video games in 2023-24 — whereas Grebenkin was making his NHL debut for the Maple Leafs.
Evidently it was a good first interval. The Golden Knights got here out on prime within the pictures division main 10-7 and getting the one energy play of the primary body. Nonetheless, it was one of many latest Maple Leafs who received his workforce on the board first.
William Nylander took the puck and staved off the defenceman going across the Golden Knights’ web. He made a go out entrance as he circled round and coming in from the excessive slot, Minten sniped it house for his first profession NHL aim.
First NHL aim for Fraser Minten!! 💪
Congrats, Fraser!
📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/3KMAeYUzZP
— NHL (@NHL) November 21, 2024
The aim got here at 8:53 of the primary interval and set the tone for the Maple Leafs, hanging on because the eventual sport winner.
Whereas Grebenkin wasn’t in a position to get on the board, he did depart his mark on this sport as nicely. He had some good defensive performs, diving to interrupt up an odd-man rush and including some physicality in a sport that received going within the second interval.
Golden Knights Had Plethora of Possibilities
The dearth of scoring for the Golden Knights actually wasn’t from an absence of attempting. In truth, that they had 26 pictures via two durations and completed with 31 complete. The Maple Leafs additionally had 25 blocked pictures — a telling stat as to how a lot rubber the Golden Knights had been throwing on the Maple Leafs all through this sport.
All collectively, the Golden Knights had 70 shot makes an attempt, 60 of which got here at 5v5. They had been credited with 28 scoring possibilities, eight of which had been high-danger alternatives with Woll seemingly simply dialled in for the total 60 minutes.
Knies Leaves within the Second Interval
The sport took a flip within the physicality division after a tough hit from Zach Whitecloud on Matthew Knies within the second body. On the eight minute mark, Whitecloud hit a streaking Knies with what some argue is a questionable name. Whereas the play was reviewed and in the end deemed a clear hockey play, the damage — which Knies didn’t return from — led to extra scrums and extra physicality. The Golden Knights got here out on prime of the hits class as nicely 29-27.
The lack of Knies appeared to ignite an already depleted Maple Leafs lineup and the workforce got here again within the third scoring an influence play marker, by Nylander and including a Pontus Holmberg empty netter to complete it off at 3-0 — his first aim of the season.
Each Goalies Put in Work
Whereas Woll left with a 31-save shutout to spice up his numbers, it also needs to be famous that Adin Hill put in a stable night time’s work, too.
The Golden Knights’ starter completed with 23 saves on 25 pictures and gave up simply two objectives. He got here out with a .920 save share and made some massive stops alongside the best way — in any other case the sport may’ve been a lot worse for the Golden Knights.
All in all, this Wednesday night time showdown had a playoff-type ambiance to it and the Maple Leafs had been capable of finding a option to come out on prime. It might have been their finest workforce effort of the season, however they’ll now wait on whether or not or not they’ll transfer one with out Knies within the lineup.
For now, the Atlantic Division main Maple Leafs will get set to tackle the Utah Hockey Membership on Sunday, whereas the Golden Knights will re-group and head to Ottawa on Thursday to tackle the Senators.
