The scene: the game isn’t a must win, it just feels like one.  The starter is gone, the fans are on edge, the Leafs kicked the puck in their own net to make it 3-2 for the Penguins and is that the swelling music signalling the hero is coming on stage?

Kasperi Kapanen has had a scrappy game and he was working it like a fourth liner.

Behind him, Auston Matthews came off the bench and slid into the play, got the puck to Matt Hunwick, that noted passing master, and he put it right on Kapanen’s tape and no mistake. The score is 3-3, the rookie has his first goal and it might be the difference on this season.

Analysis