RbR – Game 1: Leafs @ Jets (10/02/17)

 

“The Leafs went 5-2-1 in their pre-season.”

 

Oh, well…that does it then. The Leafs used up all their luck in the pre-season, like the 2016-17 Avs. They’re going to suck in the season opener against the Jets of all teams, right? Right?

 

WRONG! THEY WERE…

 

Actually, before I get way too excited (yes, hard to believe but I haven’t hit peak excitement yet) let’s back up a little bit.

 

Despite what the score would have you believe, the Leafs didn’t start off dominating the game. Actually, for about the first ten minutes or so, they overcompensated for the slashing penalty and went around with all their sticks up in the air.

 

Hey, you can’t be called for slashing if you’re poking someone’s eye out, right?

 

About three minutes into the first period, Morgan Rielly gets called for a high-sticking penalty against Brandon Tanev, and we’re off to brilliant start. However, Freddie Andersen, our true savior, stops a signature slap shot by Patrik Laine and prevents the Leafs from running around like headless chicken for the rest of the game. And then seven minutes into the game, they introduce a brand spanking new penalty, the Leo Komarov Penalty, and call him for Illegal Equipment. Yes, I am sad to say Uncle Leo’s been smuggling in equipment from Finland and was sent to the jail for two minutes to repent for his sins.

 

The Leafs will end up taking two more high-sticking penalties this period, by Connor Brown and Jake Gardiner, but those are not important. What is important is the hooking penalty Jacob Trouba takes against Tyler Bozak, with five minutes left in the first because Nazem “The Dreamer” Kadri, scores us our first Power Play goal of the season! The goal sets the much needed fire under the Leafs asses, because two minutes after that first goal, Bozak wins a faceoff against Scheifele, which ends up in the back of the net courtesy of one James van Riemsdyk (and Steve Mason). And for the last goal of the period (yes, period), with a minute and half left of play, Auston Matthews sends a beautiful pass to Jake Gardiner who looks for all intents and purposes like he’s about to shoot it, but instead ends up sending it to William Nylander for what can probably be considered an empty netter. Seriously, people, when will you learn? The guys is called Willy Ny the Hockey Guy for a reason.

 

Five minutes into the second period, determined to run through the gauntlet of every penalty the NHL has, and then some, the Leafs take a too many men penalty, but manage to kill it once again. Not only do they manage to kill it, but one of those crazy lines Babs likes to throw out after a Penalty Kill, ends up scoring one for the Leafs! What’s this crazy line, you might ask? Oh, well…this slightly splendid, not-at-all impressive Marner-Matthews-Marleau line. You know, that one. The dangle was disgusting, the celly was adorable and the hype is real!

 

And now we enter the third period, against the Jets, up 4 – 0, and every Leafs fan is watching the game through their fingers because it’s the THIRD PERIOD AND WE HAVE A LEAD. We all vividly remember how this ended for us the last time, and even if we dare forget, the commentator would not let us (Thanks, bud. You’re a real peach). But tis all for naught, because Patrick Marleau, our wonderful, wonderful off-season acquisition puts those doubts to rest and scores a goal thirty seconds into the third. And also runs off Mason from the goal (and possibly Winnipeg). Mitch Marner (PPG) and Auston Matthews, not to be outdone by their teammates, score one each and complete the holy trinity of scoring, along with Nylander. EEEEEEEP. THEY ARE ON THE LEAFS, YOU GUYS. THE TORONTO MAPLE FUCKING LEAFS!

 

Schiefele and Perreault end up scoring late in the third, robbing Freddie of his shutout but it’s just two little, two late.

 

And that’s the story of how I lost my voice on the first night of the season from screaming too much, and probably damaged my heart irreparably to boot. But it was fucking worth it!

 

In conclusion, the Leafs fuck up the Jets PP% for the rest of the season (0/8, hahahahaha), our Penalty Kill was impressive to say the least (8/8, yeah baby!) and our Power Play, which at times looked a little disjointed in the preseason, is leading the league right now at 50.0%. I could not have dreamed up a better game if I tried.

 

God, I love hockey.

 

– Ridz M.

 

PS: Don’t forget to make a stop at the Stats Station to check out the numbers behind the game!