Matt Murray gets his Revenge !

After a rather uneven start, the Pittsburgh Penguins seem to be back on a steady course.  Their modest 6-6-3 record has been helped by gaining a point in their last 3 games.  That includes defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs during the Hall of Fame game last Friday at Scotiabank Arena.  They were able to stick to their game plan to shutdown the Leafs’ quick transitions.  The Pens looked to repeat that strategy again tonight at PPG Arena. Casey DeSmith (2-3-1/2.67/.916) got another shot in goal.

Toronto had a solid bounce back game vs Vancouver on Saturday night, winning 3-2.  But they had their hands full here because they have lost in Pittsburgh the last five games in a row going back to last year’s 7-1 shellacking.  The Penguins have out scored the Leafs 28-7 over that span.

The Toronto goalie carousel stopped on the return of Matt Murray in goal.  A former Penguin, he had something to prove to both to his former club but also to show he has the stamina.  He has only played 45 games over the past 2 years in Ottawa and this will only be his 3^rd NHL start since last March.  The Leafs have enough to worry about defensively with yesterday’s announcement that Jake Muzzin is gone until at least March (likely for good) and that the steady TJ Brodie is out 2-3-weeks with an oblique injury. 

Like most Toronto sports people, I was interested to see how (in the absence of James Duthie) the OVERDRIVE crew from 1050 CHUM would do with the pre-game show. 10 out of 10 !.  Jeff O’Neill has done plenty of panel work and Jamie “Noodles” McLennan has done colour etc.  It came down to Brian Hayes in the anchor chair – well done.  Hayes had expressed his concern about the radio/TV transition, explaining that radio was something that you just talk until you’re done.  TV, on the other hand, demands that you “hit your marks”.  Unlike radio, you only have so many seconds.  When it’s time to break on TV, you REALLY must hit your mark.  I thought he was just fine !

As for the first period, the Leafs showed great determination throughout.  Matt Murray seemed to glide side to side without any difficulty.  Captain John Tavares got the 400^th goal monkey off his back on nice snipe from Kerfoot and Benn to open the scoring.  That same line put it together as Mitchell Marner buried a beauty from Joanny T and Mo Morgan to shut the crowd up.

WOW, things sure change in a hurry!

Just as soon as the second period opened, it looked like a possible blowout when Michael Bunting put the Leafs uo 3 zip.  Not long after some guy named Rackell makes it 3-1 and then a fanned pass by Sandin gifted Sidney to make it 3-2.  All this, within the first 3 minutes.

Pittsburgh went on a torrid power play with 3 strong attempts, lots of control but a strong showing by Murray to hold the lead.  The Pens would not relent and if not for a couple of goal line saves by Jordy Benn the game would have surely been tied.  Michael Bunting got his second goal of the period to give Tranna the 4-2 lead, despite being outshot 22-20.

The Leafs had a well deserved win tonight, despite being outshot 36-33, despite Matt Murray coming in under tremendous pressure, despite being on the road and with a weakened defensive corps.  They put the Penguins away 5 to 2.

HOPPER NOTES:  Don’t you just hate when the home announcer whispers the Leaf goals and then SCREAMS every detail about the home team’s accomplishments? … a lot of Penguin fans showed up tonight as empty seats…Engvall/Holl –  Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dummer…that Jordy Benn is a grizzled veteran (two goal line saves) – let’s hope he can keep it  up for the next 5-6 weeks…LOVED Jamie McLennan’s shiner…”I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me”…nice to see Michael Bunting get back on the scoresheet (2 G)…not sure if gambling (odds and the like) belong in the telecast…question for Dubas – where do you find a # 3 defenceman (at least $4mAVV) when you only have $2m to spend….sympathies my brother…Cheers and always enjoy your comments !