Nick Robertson in for Ryan Reaves. Joe Woll gets the net. Otherwise this is the same lineup as from the Jets game.
First Period
Joe Woll had to make a very early save which was a bit of portent of doom for the first half of the period.
The Leafs spent all their time hemmed in broken up by occasional bits of badly executed dump and chase.
Matthews took a dumb penalty early, getting that out of his system for the year.
Matty Beniers took one to even it up as nature intended.
This was a cheeseball call to make up for the actual mugging on Knies that went uncalled.
After the four-on-four, the Leafs power play portion involved some actual shots, not good ones, but shots. This seemed to be the turning point in the period, and the rest was better.
Pacioretty had the best chance of the period.
The fourth line, with Pontus Holmberg now swapped in for Nick Robertson, and a lot of help from the defence had a very long shift and finally got a faceoff to allow a reunited Max Domi, William Nylander and Bobby McMann line to get on the ice. Good tactics, bad strategy.
This period had some legitimate offence, but also a great deal of time stuck in the defensive zone, poor puck control and a lot of other not good things.
Oh, and a very Knies end to the period.
All the earlier crud is forgotten. Leafs lead 1-0.
Second Period
Nylander with a goal on the second shift.
Knies took a penalty for holding the stick, and the Leafs laid down a very good PK.
Nylander again, but really Tavares again.
It was like they all just said, "Hey we're better than these guys."
Nylander took a hand on puck penalty with a few minutes left. Leafs with an even better PK.
Everything went great in this period, and the score reflects. 3-0 Leafs.
Look what happens when you shoot from good locations. What would happen if they did that more?
Thing I noticed, Simon Benoit has the least ice time on the PK for the four usual defenders.
Third Period
Kraken came out pretty hard and Toronto had to scramble to defend including a sliding block from Mitch Marner.
Seattle took a penalty for interference, and the second power play unit went out first. Of course Nylander and Tavares are on this unit for inexplicable reasons.
Max Domi got a post on a very good shot. They maintained possession for a very long time and the first unit came out and continued to pin in the Kraken. Pacioretty nearly scored, but it was blocked. Good job by all.
Seattle pulled Daccord very early, just after the TV timeout with five minutes left.
Nylander missed the empty net because he just will never have another hat trick. He bobbled the puck about four times.
Eeli Tolvanen blew the shutout with a goal.
There were two entire teams screening Woll there.
Matthews cashes in on a bank shot after an epic board battle by Mitch Marner.
Final score was 4-1 Leafs.
Very good game by the Leafs, and the best part is, they have room to get even better and the potential to do it.
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