First Period
Simon Benoit sends the puck over the glass with 49 seconds played. Avs to the power play.
Mitch Marner controls the puck at first, but once the Avs set up they just play the Leafs like a pinball machine, and no one can get the puck and clear it. The goal is not a surprise.
Artturi Lehkonen scores on the power play pic.twitter.com/TO9gf1KnXp
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
1-0 Avs
Leafs are struggling defensively to keep up with the rapid passing of the Avs. Colorado's best players seem content to move the puck, not their bodies, and it's working for them as the Leafs are rushing around chasing the puck.
Brodie falls down in the neutral zone, then Matthews. It's about the 10th time someone in the black jerseys has gone down. This is the one that's concerning:
Benoit's last shift before heading off pic.twitter.com/CwJe5XlYg9
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
MacKinnon just outskates everyone here, to make this happen:
speed blitz pic.twitter.com/THwJRNJa5K
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
2-0 Avs
Tyler Bertuzzi falls down too, but he had help so Ross Colton sits down.
He makes the most of the opportunity the power play presents.
powerplay remains hot
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
clean crease feed from Marner pic.twitter.com/lJgRIEiHO5
2-1 Avs
Oh, how did that not go in!
that was real close pic.twitter.com/zkzqeSxeQL
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
Thoughts
This game is still in reach because of that last save.
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Corsi is two off from even, but the Leafs are not getting near the net. And the Avs may seem static and like they just play PP styles all the time, but they end up shooting from good places.
Second Period
Benoit definitely back now, so just a numb leg on that block.
There's a lot of board battles, a lot of up and down the ice, but only one Shot on Goal after five minutes.
Samsonov has to stop a breakaway and that's the most excitement so far this period.
Samsonov stops O'Connor breaking through pic.twitter.com/Gf0s0MHU3e
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
I was enjoying the quiet, guys. Samsonov loses his stick, and yet someone is there to help him.
surviving without a stick pic.twitter.com/tPG1W96Y28
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
A Samsonovian Spin-a-rama to save the day.
the hockey gods are on Samsonov's side tonight pic.twitter.com/wlIzRHEd9Y
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
Bad fourth line shift from Toronto.
John Tavares gets some superline time, and a super chance. No joy, though.
The mess in front of Samsonov is epic:
the entire team saved this pic.twitter.com/8WGagUAXIF
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
William Nylander and Max Domi get a break, but it's the guy coming up behind them who gets his second of the night. So very many narratives in for a rewrite tonight.
TYLER BERTUZZI 🚨🚨
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
TIE GAME! pic.twitter.com/xHc720g2Ro
Tie Game
Oh my! A beautiful goal from Marner as Matt Knies does the net-front job.
Good screen from Knies for Marner as Matthews used his power of magnetism pic.twitter.com/FPs9ITrSEd
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
3-2 Toronto
Auston Matthews acting as the magician's assistant on this one.
Georgiev with a save on Matthews and with seconds left, that's this period over.
Thoughts
This period was dullsville until the second half when it became the Samsonov and Bertuzzi redemption hour. Or, 10 minutes, anyway.
Corsi in the second is identical to the first, but the Leafs flipped the Expected Goals number to their favour.
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They found the front of the net, in other words.
Third Period
Another period, another long stretch where the Leafs can't control the puck and get out of their own zone. The Avs are just better tonight at keeping the play alive.
Bertuzzi stops a tap-in pic.twitter.com/iRfENDswTW
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
The goal is not a surprise (again).
Mikko Rantanen ties it at 3
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
shot through traffic pic.twitter.com/WEHu2IzR9g
Tie Game
Someone might win this game 6-3, or it might go to a shootout. It's impossible to tell with 10 minutes left.
Morgan Rielly just checked Samsonov behind the net.
Leafs try to exit, turn back. Try to exit, turn back. Try to exit and the results is a fourth line offensive shift that is really excellent. Pontus Holmberg making them all look good.
Disclaimer: I'm posting this because it's funny. No one should assume I have deep ulterior motives.
oh, well that almost worked pic.twitter.com/RPxXRceBi0
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
Almost worked from whom?
Leafs should try playing with the puck, though. I hear that works.
Oh, ho. The Avs return the puck over glass favour. And the Leafs get a power play with four minutes left.
Whoooooo Hooooooo. Hat Trick Go Ahead Goal.
clutch time for Bertuzzi
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
great feed from Nylander pic.twitter.com/ORref3ReNt
4-3 Leafs
🎂🎂🎂
Avs pull Georgiev and pour on the offence.
Rielly hit in the ear/neck by a puck. The ref blows it dead. Rielly seems okay.
Rielly looks to be okay after taking a puck high pic.twitter.com/UK6ArOI9fj
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2024
Leafs win by turning the final minute into a very long scrum against the boards until they finally clear it.
Tavares can't control the puck on an ENG attempt.
Leafs Win!
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