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Auston Matthews was lacking, however the Maple Leafs’ particular groups confirmed up in power Tuesday night time.
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A hat trick from the electro-shocked energy play, mixed with a 6-for-6 penalty killing, stymied their arch nemesis, the Boston Bruins, with a 4-0 win at Scotiabank Enviornment. Anthony Stolarz cleaned up something his persistent defencemen missed with the 29-save shutout.
The Leafs had misplaced their earlier two video games and in addition to shedding to Boston final 12 months’s playoff collection in Recreation 7 extra time, and had dropped the previous seven in common season, together with an extra time setback final month.
The Leafs had ended a protracted power-play stoop that dropped them to final within the NHL with a objective in Minnesota utilizing 5 forwards, however of their three conversions on Tuesday, defenceman Morgan Rielly was added in Matthews’ absence.
Rielly scored Toronto’s first objective, helped by considered one of many screens set by Matthew Knies. He additionally had two assists: One when William Nylander walked out of the nook and banked one off Brandon Carlo’s skate, and one other off a tip-in by Knies.
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Toronto’s second unit practically added one other objective on a 3rd consecutive name, earlier than compelled to kill a pair themselves.
Steven Lorentz potted an empty-net objective with 4:02 remaining.
The 2 objectives in opposition to Jeremy Swayman have been the primary the Bruins allowed after consecutive shutouts over Seattle and Philadelphia.
With out Matthews, a morning scratch with what coach Craig Berube stated was a nagging upper-body problem, Max Domi was given the main platform as first-line centre. By no means thoughts emulating the absent Rocket Richard Trophy winner, Domi simply wished one objective, having gone zero for 13 coming in with out a common season strike since April 24 of final 12 months. He did get on the sport sheet – for a late second-period slash.
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Curiously, the Maple Leafs have a robust report of 36-19-2 when enjoying with out Matthews.
It was no shock that Stolarz received the decision in web, and he actually obtained a wakeup name on an early power-play level drive that caught him excessive in an unprotected shoulder space. The ability play got here from Toronto’s first bench minor for too many males this season. However Stolarz shook it off and Mitch Marner rapidly drew an even-up name. The Leafs couldn’t complain a couple of minutes later after the officers huddled to assessment a serious to Max Pacioretty for a physique test into the boards that crumpled Andrew Peeke, and the zebras ended up taking the 5 minutes and the anticipated default minor proper off the board.
The Leafs’ top-10 penalty killing unit received an enormous hand from Stolarz kicking out a pad to disclaim Brad Marchand’s one-timer and he made a few saves with out his stick, which has been slipping from his grip or been knocked away very often the previous two video games.
The Leafs now have a pair days off earlier than two extra residence Atlantic Division matches back-to-back: The Corridor of Fame Recreation on Friday in opposition to the Detroit Purple Wings, and a go to by the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
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