First Period

  • [18:51] The Leafs start off with a shift that keeps the puck in the Flames zone for a long time, but only generate one decent shot.
  • [18:17] The Flames come right back with a pretty good shift of their own, leading to a Mikael Backlund chance in front.
  • [17:32] Tyson Barrie makes a heads up play to go long for Kasperi Kapanen - it leads to some offensive zone pressure for that line. It’s a good way to use Kapanen’s speed to generate some cheap zone entries, especially early in games when teams might not be keyed in on him.
  • [13:50] We hear that Engvall is in concussion protocol. I noticed he took a spill in his second shift, but didn’t think much of it. Possible that it was stemming from that. Johnsson replaces him on the Tavares line.
  • [11:44] On a partial change, Timashov latches onto a puck in the offensive zone and lashes it against the side of the net. On the same sequence, he draws a tripping penalty on Elias Lindholm. The Leafs go to the power play.
  • [10:26] Rasmus Sandin takes a hooking penalty defending Mark Jankowski shorthanded. The Leafs power play is cut short.
  • [8:26] Both power plays end with no drama. Back to 5 on 5.
  • [7:14] Barrie and Nylander both take long slap shots that are better shots than they would appear on a shot plot (because cross-ice passes preceded both) but are nonetheless not ideal offense from the Leafs. Spezza had a great pass to find Barrie for his shot. It looks like he was on the ice with Tavares and Nylander - I’m not sure if it was a partial change or if Keefe is cycling through the different options to replace Engvall.
  • [5:13] The Leafs have had more of the puck by a pretty significant amount, but the Flames are getting right to the front of the net when they counterattack.
  • [4:58] Spezza is indeed on the right side of Tavares. Nylander moves to the left side, though the Leafs move around so much in the offensive zone that I’m not sure it matters.
  • [4:09] That line surrenders a huge chance to Sean Monahan in front, but he fortunately misses the net.
  • [0:00] Period ends without further incident. /

Second Period

  • [20:00] Engvall is back on the ice to start the second.
  • [18:50] Dermott takes a shot off the foot and struggles mightily to get off the ice. The Leafs need another defenseman injury like I need a hole in the head.
  • [16:34] Gauthier draws a penalty - for what, I’m not sure. The official call is that Sam Bennett tripped him. In reality, he delivered a perfectly clean hit on Gauthier.
  • [14:34] The Flames kill off the penalty.
  • [12:26] The Flames open the scoring a few minutes later after a Derek Ryan tip from a Travis Hamonic shot. 1-0 Flames./
  • [10:00] The Tavares line generates some solid chances in front, but nothing that gets by David Rittich.
  • [9:33] Hyman and Matthews are in on a 2-on-1, but the latter can’t find the former. Was set up on a nice play by Marner.
  • [8:54] On a great neutral zone turnover forced by Kerfoot, Kapanen gets a strong slot shot away on a 2-on-1, followed by Rittich absolutely robbing Johnsson on the rebound. That was a great chance to go level.
  • [6:08] Johnny Gaudreau hunts down a loose puck in the offensive zone and feeds Backlund alone in the slot, whose shot is well saved by Andersen.
  • [5:56] Zach Hyman takes a couple shifts with the Tavares line. Looks like Johnsson moves to Matthews’, Engvall down to Kerfoot’s. On this same shift, Tavares draws a holding penalty.
  • [5:33] I haven’t commented much on the Leafs power plays so far, primarily because it’s been really ineffective.
  • [4:39] Good lord, how did the Leafs not score. Nylander goes cross-ice at crease level to Tavares, and somehow, the puck stays out. As it turns out, Noah Hanifin keeps it out with his stick
  • [2:02] Hanafin throws a puck into the crease and a Lindholm tips it on net. Another somewhat tricky save from Andersen.
  • [1:06] Matthew Tkachuk centres to Andrew Mangiapane who fires it hard on net. Another great save from Andersen. The Flames have gotten their chances tonight. It really hasnt been a great game from the Leafs protecting their net.
  • [0:00] Period ends with the Leafs stuck one goal./

Third Period

  • [16:56] Pretty uneventful start to the period, with neither team generating a whole lot. Of course, that benefits the leading team.
  • [14:45] Johnsson with a really nice zone entry after he broke up a long Flames cycle in the other end. He centres for Dermott who is stymied by Rittich.
  • [12:45] The Leafs will go to the power play again as Tobias Rieder interferes with Kapanen.
  • [11:25] And they finally get a goal on the PP! Tavares finds Nylander in front, and he taps it home from the goalmouth. 1-1 tie. /
  • [10:07] Nylander is feeling it tonight. He completely dances around Oliver Kylington before getting stopped by Rittich. He made a really nice play to avoid a hit in the neutral zone which led to this chance.
  • [7:58] Hyman interferes with Rieder and the Flames go to the power play. I don’t love that call, but I can’t pretend the Leafs haven’t gotten some favourable calls tonight either. Big kill upcoming for the Leafs. They can’t afford to give up a goal here.
  • [5:58] And they don’t! Just about six minutes to guarantee a point, or make sure we get two.
  • [5:09] Johnsson and Matthews are on a two-on-one, and AGAIN, Rittich stones Matthews. That was an absurd save. I was so sure that Matthews shot was going in. By his reaction, Matthews was too.
  • [3:29] The Leafs had some trouble getting to the front of the net in the first - that has not really carried over to the second and third.
  • [2:17] Matthews and Marner are dancing all around the offensive zone right now, but just can’t find the finishing touch. I think they’ve played pretty well offensively, and they’ve definitely come on strong later in the game.
  • [0:00] We head to OT!/

Overtime

  • [4:47] 13 seconds in, Andersen makes a ridiculous save on TJ Brodie.
  • [3:11] The Leafs have lost both faceoffs in the OT, and as a result, they’ve barely touched the puck.
  • [2:15] Dermott makes a rather silly shooting decision from a pretty undangerous area of the ice, but makes up for it with a fiendish backcheck to regain the puck.
  • [1:02] Holl sets up Kapanen alone in front on a two-on-one, and Rittich saves it again. Kapanen just didn’t quite get the elevation he needed on the shot, but credit Rittich for getting post to post.
  • [0:00] Heading to the shootout./

Shootout

  • Jason Spezza up first - SAVED
  • Sean Monahan goes for the Flames - SAVED
  • Auston Matthews shoots next - SAVED
  • Matthew Tkachuk takes his turn - SCORES
  • Mitch Marner needs to score ... SAVED
  • Flames win in shootout./
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