First Period

Ex-brief-Leaf Colin Blackwell almost scored early in the game.

a chaotic save to get Woll into the game

— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T00:47:57.519Z

Sam Steel actually did:

Sam Steel makes it 1-0

— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T00:54:37.565Z

Max Domi tied it up with his second goal in two games:

MAX DOMI 🚨 Goals in back-to-back and it's tied

— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T00:55:11.838Z

starts with the play in the neutral zone and he finishes it

— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T00:56:06.340Z

That was the sort of rush opportunity created between Domi and Robertson last season.

Pacioretty caught Bourque on the train tracks

— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T01:01:45.387Z

I think Pacioretty needs to dial back the risk taking on these hits just a bit. Not a lot, just a bit.

Hintz took a cross-checking penalty in response

— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T01:02:51.986Z

Conor Timmins took a delay of game penalty for hitting a camera with the puck – so not actually out of play.

Dallas got a power play late in the first, when Timmins again went off for slashing. I do seem to type that bit about the Leafs taking a penalty with two minutes left a lot.

After one the game was one-all, so it didn't actually matter how badly the Leafs got outplayed or how many hot scoring chances the Stars had.

xG can't capture the aspects of a goal like Domi's that made it a good shot, and a quality scoring chance, but this is not that far off the reality of the period.

Second Period

The Leafs gave one up early:

Evgenii Dadonov gets the go-ahead goal to start the second

— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T01:46:20.469Z

The broadcast thought he fell because he was hurt, but the stick clearly breaks. He left the ice for a time in the period and did not come out for the third, so something happened here.

WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨 Up and over off the bar

— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T01:51:15.750Z

That goal of Robertson's was nice, but the play on the next goal was better:

After two it was 4-2 Leafs. You have to laugh at this:

The Leafs were better in the second. Not roar out to a two-goal lead better, but they had the puck more, got hemmed in less.

Third Period

Casey DeSmith came in for Jake Oettinger. DeSmith has been sick and only just rejoined the active roster today (after the preview was out), so that's how shaky Oettinger has been.

Dallas looked tired early, slow to move and react, a lot of sluggish skating. Maybe they've had as bad a schedule as the Leafs lately.

Leafs played a perfect first nine minutes – they had the puck most of the time and Dallas didn't look to interested in trying to interfere with that.

And then Joe Woll filled in for a moment:

John Tavares took a penalty for a casual elbow smack to the face of Sam Steel, and after a rough ride surviving the first period power plays, the Leafs defended a lot better on that one.

DeSmith was pulled at three minutes to go.

Dallas got one back after a long period where the Leafs couldn't escape the six-on-four.

Nylander steps on the gas and gets the ENG. JT made it happen by being the kind of tough battler he's always been, no matter the coach.

Final score was 5-3 Leafs.

Tonight, the Leafs third line was outstanding. They didn't face the Dallas top line a lot, but that's not their job, and Nick Robertson was particularly hard on the puck at all times. These last two games – forget the goals – they're the first games Max Domi has been creating offence, which is his job. This needs to be the start of the rest of their season for both of these players.

Next game is Friday against the happy-go-lucky Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo. And that's the first of a back-to-back, of course. Roster freeze if Thursday at midnight.

See you on Friday!

Game Coverage