Note: If you didn't already know, I will be contributing at PPP as a news and post-game writer, and I am pretty excited for this opportunity. You can follow me on Twitter at @Dale_Lamontagne.
Despite a strong effort in the first period, the Toronto Maple Leafs found themselves down 1-0 to the Minnesota Wild after twenty minutes of play.
This was the 12th time in 13 games that the Maple Leafs gave up the first goal in a game. The Leafs had a good effort in the opening frame, which surprisingly saw them have some energy and effort, but they still trailed after one period of play.
Thanks to Charlie Coyle, the Wild maintained a last-minute lead after a shot sneaked past Jonathan Bernier on a scramble in front of the Leafs net.
The second period was fun. The Wild picked up their game and added some physicality that we didn't see in the first. The Leafs, however, found themselves down after forty-minutes of play, but only by one goal. Bernier made a few big saves in the middle frame which kept the game at 1-0, and if it weren't for him, the game would be a totally different story.
Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf dropped the gloves with Wild forward Kyle Brodziak towards the end of the period, which ended up being a long tilt.
With literally seconds to go in the period, the Leafs came close to scoring their first goal with a mad scramble in front of Devan Dubnyk and the Wild net. The Leafs got a few shots on goal, but time ran out and could not bury one.
Ten minutes into the third period, the Wild extended their lead to 2-0 with Thomas Vanek converting on a nice setup from Suter.
With about six minutes to go, the Leafs got their first goal of the game with Jake Gardiner tucking away the loose puck behind Dubnyk.
The Leafs continued to press hard for a late tying goal, but time was not on their side and they fell to the Wild 2-1.
Although the Leafs lost, we saw some life for the first time in a long time. Hey, we even heard a "Go Leafs Go" chant. Not that the Leafs should be winning games or anything, but it was different to see.
The Leafs are back in action on Thursday as they take on the Florida Panthers at the ACC. See you then!
The announced attendance at the game was reportedly at an all-time low, as the season dwindles and fans shift their attention to the draft.
This is the lowest attendance figure (18,366) the #leafs have reported in the 16-year history of Air Canada Centre.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 24, 2015 So, that's that. The Leafs have 8 games to go!
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