Recap: Leafs calmly beat the emo Senators

First Period

It took almost four minutes for the first Shot on Goal. Everyone was getting their hard hits in first. Nick Robertson checks, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. But he doesn't hit as hard as Matt Knies.

Notice below how not near the net the Leafs are. One line got in close consistently in this period, and it wasn't the Matthews line. I expected them to face the toughest checking and effective defence, though.

The fourth line, however... they got to play.

1-0 Leafs

No luck on this one:

Mr. Bombastic:

You sometimes have to make your own space:

2-0 Leafs

Anthony Stolarz had some issues with rebound and puck control:

And he didn't get a lot of help there either.

2-1 Leafs

When they can get there, it goes in there.

Senators with 56% Corsi and 43% Expected Goals.

Shift chart shows the third line playing very little and someone on line one or two scoops up some of the Robertson or Bobby McMann shifts.

Second Period

First penalty call:

That was quick:

3-1 Leafs.

Ridley Greig with the cross-check in the corner:

This was called as a major so the automatic review could take place, but it was reduced to two minutes.

This was also two minutes:

The Leafs had a five-on-three, but they didn't need much of it.

4-1 Leafs.

You could clearly see him say, "That was soft," on the way to the box.

At the same time Scott Laughton got into it with Brady Tkachuck, so they both went to the box. All of this happened with 13 seconds left in the period, so the power play for the Leafs will open the third.

Midway through this period Max Domi and Pontus Holmberg switched places. It might be that with a lead, Craig Berube wants some more defence on a line that hasn't been good. Or it might be that Domi has actually made about one useful pass all game. Not his best night by any means. The Tavares line has been checked very effectively by Shane Pinto et al.

In All-Situations, you can see that the Senators aren't getting anywhere near the net. This is a best case scenario outcome for the Leafs so far. Ottawa outshot the Leafs in that period, and I'm not going to be surprised if they do in the third as well. But it barely matters when their quality of shooting is so bad and the Leafs power play has locked down a good lead.

Third Period

The Leafs power play never really got setup. Matthew Highmore proving his worth on the PK.

Shortly after the Leafs took a penalty they didn't have to serve. Greig scored.

4-2 Leafs.

Morgan Rielly decided to try scoring like it's 1985. It worked.

5-2 Leafs.

Good play by Robertson here. Linus Ullmark had been very bad this game.

At this point, the Leafs were not putting three forwards deep in the offensive zone, but they were letting two guys get below the goal line. The Leafs are still the Leafs even when they turtle a little. The Senators had a lot more quality to their shooting in this third period, however.

The Senators with another cross-checking penalty, and Dylan Cozens also got a misconduct at the same time for something unreported.

6-2 Leafs.

And almost immediately the Senators took a high-sticking penalty. The wheels have come off for Ottawa.

Ekman-Larsson knocked Greig down who bowled into Stolarz, who is fine. Ottawa with a power play with three minutes to go which comes to nothing.

Big scrum at the end of the period between the Domi third line and some Senators. The usual bruisers.

The ref gave roughing minors to everyone on the ice save the goalies. Four-on-four the result.

Final score was 6-2 Leafs.

The Leafs just played their game tonight whenever they had a chance. Did they win the Corsi battle? Nope. And they didn't do a lot better at Expected Goals, either. But their three strengths all fired: Stolie, the power play, the talent of the skaters.

Bright spots: OEL looked fine. Jake McCabe was back! Robertson, Laughton and Järnkrok. Worries: The second line is going to get flattened by the Ottawa second line unless they get some checking power. The Leafs still can't essay a zone exit with confidence.