This afternoon’s “Next Generation” game started out as a dud but ended with a bang as the visiting Philadelphia Flyers showed their scrappiness by coming back to make a game of things after being outplayed and down 4-1.
One of the announcer’s actually said they should put on a pot of coffee in the first intermission after both teams came out with great lethargy in a low event period. Philly finally got on the board off a power play slap shot from DeAngelo. This was right after Mitchell Marner just missed converting a shorty on a break away.
Toronto came out with a great deal more enthusiasm and the assertive play that Leafs’ Nation has become accustomed to start the second. They had the SOG up to 20 to 5 by the 10-minute mark. Calle Jarnkrok tipped in a Marner point shot to get the Leafs on the board. That was Mitchell’s 14th home ice point in a row. Shortly thereafter, Marner scored his 13th with a power play marker to end the period at 2-1 Tranna.
Off that momentum, the Leafs started the third with another nice goal from Michael Bunting in the slot. Potential trouble arose when Toronto went down on a 2-man disadvantage. David Kampf and Marner were heroes throughout that stretch and helped keep the 2 goal advantage. William Nylander is having himself quite a season, as shown by him charging the goal to net for his 20th goal making it a seemingly impossible 4-1 lead. The plucky Flyers would not cave. First, Andy’s boy Morgan Frost converted a nice goal off the rush and then Joel Farabee posted a similar marker to make things very interesting. Sure enough coach John Torterello pulled his goalie and a passionate last minute and half was enjoyed by all the Next-Gen kids in the crowd. The Leafs go to their Christmas break with a handsome 21-7-6 record.
HOPPER NOTES: Merry Christmas to all my followers and please keep your precious families and loved ones close, safe and together !
CHEERS !