During tonight’s Maple Leafs/Jersey Devils redux, the second half officially began for Toronto in game # 42. Playing at a .700 clip with their 28-10-3 record, most pundits give credit where credit is due by listing the Leafs somewhere amongst the top 10 contenders for this year’s Stanley Cup. Chief concerns for that happening in this reporter’s opinion is the current downturn in Jack Campbell’s stats in both GAA and SV % and the ongoing need for a solid right D-man veteran with strength, nastiness and game.
The New Jersey Devils are not a very good hockey team. Despite having some young potential stars, they just weren’t very interested in participating in this contest – constantly coughing up pucks in their own zone and playing soft around the edges.
This game was 3 zip Leafs by the 9 minute mark. Constant forecheck pressure by Toronto resulted in Austin Mathews’ 29th and David Kampf’s fifth – these were scored just 26 seconds apart. Scoring juggernaut Jason Spezza opened the scoring at the 2:50 mark with his second in as many games and then later in the frame Mitchell Marner kept his 7 game scoring streak alive to end it a 4-0 after one. Queue the Boo Birds.
Mark Bunting got his 13th off a nice feed from Marner and then Engvall made it 6 nothing in the second. Seriously, this was a stats padding game for the Leafs, almost embarrassing to watch. I don’t know any Devils fans – I don’t even know anyone from New Jersey but man, I felt for you tonight. It was like the Leafs were playing a Junior ‘B’ team. Sure the Leafs have the number 1 power play, the 4th best winning percentage in the league and they really should beat this team – but such a sh.. kicking ?
So, the Leafs go into the 5 day All-Star beak with a 5 game winning streak. 2019 # 1 draft pick Jack Huges spoiled things with his 12th and Marner answered with his 14th. 7-1 final. I was kind of glad when the final horn went.
HOPPER NOTES: Jack Campbell had a nice rebound game with 32 saves…he was particularly sharp during a Jersey 2 man advantage in the second…great job by TSN on their Black History Month coverage promoting the Diversity and Inclusion aspects of the program…Willie O’Ree was announced as the recipient of the US Congressional Gold Medal of Honour, the first hockey player to be so honoured…were John Tavares and Willy Nylander invisible again tonight ? …all 4 Leaf centres are now above .500 in the playoff circle…see ya next Monday – enjoy the Winter Olympics !
Discuss – Cheers
Johnny T was so ticked he couldn’t convert, but the effort was there. Soupy needs the confidence a solid defense (Muzzin come baaaack) would give him. Loving these Buds. GLG!