First Period

The Canadiens pinned the Leafs in by that age-old technique of passing the puck around the perimeter. They got two shots on goal (this will be important later).

Berube also put out five forwards on an offensive-zone faceoff.

After one, it was zero-all. And Montréal finished that period with two Shots on Goal. At five-on-five, the Leafs had 58% Corsi as the Canadiens did shoot the puck, they just missed a lot.

Five-on-five chart without the power play shots.

Second Period

Montréal came out very strong, and they are just defending really well in this game – clogging up the slot and denying zone entries both.

The good defending was in evidence on the power play where the Leafs looked pretty ineffective.

Kaiden Guhle landed a clean but big hit on John Tavares, so there was a fight. (At least it broke up a Canadiens rush._

Max Domi took an extra minor for unsportsmanlike conduct – maybe instigating by any other name? Maybe retaliation for a clean hit? Who knows. Turns out he'd just come off the bench, so he could have been given the gate – the refs were doing him a favour.

The hit on McMann was worse, but still not a penalty:

Not a tough PK for the Leafs, however, and Nick Robertson – serving the minor – got a rush right out of the box. The Leafs drew a penalty almost immediately, and laid down a very good power play.

Jakub Dobes finally had to do some work.

Still no goals.

On the one hand, Montréal sure looked lively, and they are defending very effectively. On the other, Stolarz has made seven saves.

The game is now pretty much even.

Third Period

Michael Pezzetta takes a bad penalty trying to defend Scott Laughton.

The Leafs did well, the Canadiens PK was also good, and then John Tavares and Josh Anderson went off for co-incidental minors. Old men tussling.

Nick Robertson then had a great chance, and David Savard was sent off for slashing, although... that seemed weak on the original replay.

Eighteen seconds of five-on-three.

Mitch Marner with the open net, but no!

Lots of chances on the extended power play, but still no goals.

William Nylander with 7:24 in five-on-four power play minutes (NST). Mitch Marner next on the list with 6:15.

A very chaotic and fast second half of the period with a lot of Leafs offence.

Rielly was back on the ice in a subsequent shift.

Both teams struggled to get near the net and didn't try to shoot much unless they were in close.

With three minutes to go, Mitch Marner has the most TOI, over 24 minutes, so more than any of the five defenders.

Toronto concentrated their fire, and the Canadiens opened things up in the third. The power play was better for both teams, of course.

Overtime

Once again, with playoffs looming, three-on-three becomes a side show. Well, it always is, really.

Mitch Marner! He does it all, forward, defence, special teams, overtime. I'm calling it, he's my favourite player this year.

Final score was 1-0 Leafs.

Next game is tomorrow in Carolina at 5 pm.

Game Coverage