The Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the “second-best” NHL team in Canada tonight at the Scotiabank Arena – as some would have you believe. Yes, the Winnipeg Jets are off to a great start to this ‘22-33 season with the help of Head Coach Rick Bowness and a renewed self confidence of a team with a huge upside. The Jets were coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss to les Habitants on Tuesday and you know they gotta be pissed. Afterall, the ‘Peg is in a toe to toe battle in the Central with the Dallas Stars. With Connor Hellybuck in goal and Norris candidate Josh Morrisey on the back end, you know the JETS are going to show up.
TJ Brodie (rib) was out again for Toronto, but Leafs Nation looked for the return of Rasmus Sandin and Ilya Samsonov in net.
Pretty good first period, however uneventful. A couple of power plays from both sides proved nothing really. The Leafs did not seem very crisp or assertive while the Jets, although enthusiastic, had no real finish. Final SOG Winnipeg 16-6.
Did I say boring ? No, Austin Mathews scored just 8 seconds in thanks to a faceoff win and “punt from Bunts”. AM34 walked right on in and went five-hole for the game’s first goal. Could this be a renaissance for #34 ? He went top-blocker to score his 24th to keep his 7 game point streak alive and lift the Leafs to a 2-0 lead, after another Bunting assist. Not to be out done, Mitchell Marner kept his home point streak alive – a brilliant shorty – to make it 3-0.
The Leafs took a dumb too many men right off the hop in the third period. To make things worse, Marc Giordano put them down x 2. To no one’s surprise, Connor put in a beauty to bring the game back within reach for the ’Peg. And, they weren’t done there. They peppered the Leafs throughout the third, out shooting TML 2 to 1 by this point. Bowness pulled Hellybuck at the 3 minute mark and old guy Giordano placed a 175 footer right in the middle to secure the 4-1 victory.
HOPPER NOTES: 2 or 3 sources have laid out the concept of a “Home” goalie and “Road” goalie for the playoffs…Samsonov is at 12-0-1 at home after tonight…hmmmmm…so glad to see Kerfoot “dancing” out there again…Cole Perfetti, a nice Whitby boy, had 2 dozen fans in his corner tonight…Kerfoot is useful, Engvall is not…that Winnipeg team, with all its stars: Scheflie, Wheeler, Connor, Ehlers, Morrisey, Pionk will make some noise in the west playoffs …CHEERS ! Baseball training camp is not far off !