RbR – Game 2: Rangers @ Leafs (10/07/17)

You break me down,

You build me up

Believer, Believer

(Pain)

 

There is a reason this became the song of the masses when it comes to the Leafs.

 

I’d like it to be known that the game last night actually killed me and I am typing this from my grave. We have unlimited high-speed internet here if anyone would like to join me. All hockey fans must at some point, so why not?

 

Let’s go back to before the game even started because the Leafs kicked off their home-opener with the release of content, more content and even more content. Not to mention the hype video they released which I have definitely not watched too many times. Add all this to the player introductions for their home opener and I. WAS. BUZZING. before the puck even dropped.

 

Finally, finally, it starts.

 

About two minutes into the game, the Leafs look nothing like they did at the beginning of the Jets’ game. They are charging the net, creating chances and shooting left and right. And boys, girls and non-binary pals, you know what happens when you do that? To quote the very wise Mike Babcock, “If you do good things, good things happen.” Gardiner gets his shot blocked, but Martin gathers the puck and sends it back to Zaitsev, who takes a shot, also blocked, and then takes another one. Third time’s the charm, and Moore redirects it into the back of the net for a statement first goal, and who needed it more than him?

 

But before I could even fully stop screaming about that first goal, McDonagh wins a puck battle behind the Leafs net and passes it to Kreider, who takes a shot that would have harmlessly gone wide…just floated right off…if it wasn’t for Rosen and Miller, who are stick jousting in front of the net. The puck bounces back enough that Miller lightly taps it, and in the back of the net it goes.

 

Was that the shortest lead we ever had? (Probably not, it’s the Leafs.)

 

And oh god, I better speed this up. There are eleven more (yes, ELEVEN) goals to talk about.

 

So what if we lost a lead? We have Zach Hyman. And if there’s a puck to be found on the ice, he’ll find it. He takes a pass off of Nylander and rushes it in, but is stopped by Hank. Aw damn. Oh. Oh wow! DeAngelo loses the puck, and Hyman doesn’t make the same mistake twice and puts it in the net. 2 – 1 Leafs. And as I type this, I see that only Willy has an assist on that goal. They really should have included Tony. He did all the work!

 

Not that they needed the help, but Shattenkirk takes a holding penalty against Martin, and the Leafs go to a power play. And not that the Rangers defense was impressive to begin with, but this next goal was seriously atrocious on their part. Gardiner waltz into the offensive zone ,scores a goal, and it looks kind of like the shots Matthews takes against the mannequin in practice.

 

(Skjei, honey, I say this because I love you, but that was bad.)

 

Zaitsev tries his luck at another wrist shot and it pays off this time, followed by Hyman again, who battles three guys for the puck, wins and Nylander puts it in. 5 – 1 Leafs!

 

Shattenkirk gets a power play goal in the first period too, to make it 5 -2, but who cares. It’s FIVE to TWO.

 

Well, the Rangers defense might care a little bit, because after that disaster of a first period, I wouldn’t be surprised if the entirety of the team except the goalies went missing, courtesy of one very angry swedish goalie.

 

Pavelec is in goal for the Rangers for the second period, and makes some great saves to keep them in the game.

 

But it’s fine, right? We still have a 3 goal lead. Come on. Not even the Leafs…

 

W.R.O.N.G!!!

 

Now, see, there is this thought, buried under the excitement and the thrill as it might be, in the back of every Leafs’ fan’s mind. What new, innovative way will they find to lose this lead? And no matter what false sense of security they lull you into, they are still the Leafs and they will Leaf.

 

Long story short, the Rangers are good at screening and power play goals, and the Leafs are bad at supporting their goalie.

 

We end the second period tied 5 – 5 and with my blood pressure shot to high-hell.

 

Third period starts and this time, Freddie makes a few great saves to keep the Leafs in the game, and it pays off half a period later when Bozak scores what would turn out to be the GWG, off of assists by Gardiner and Marner. Due to the new offside review rule, whereby a failed coaches challenge on the basis of offsides will result in a minor penalty for the team, the Rangers end up going to penalty kill right after this goal. It’s a stupid rule, and I will loathe it as soon as it backfires on the Leafs, as it is going to on all 31 teams, but today’s not that day because even though the Leafs don’t score on that power play, Hayes takes another penalty for slashing Marner at the tail end of the first PP which will result in a goal for Nylander Komarov. And for the cherry on top, Kadri dekes his way to his second of the season. And that’s how the game would end.

 

8 – 5 Leafs. Or should I say 2 – 0 – 0 Leafs?

 

Or perhaps, 200/100 R would be the right one.

 

 

– Ridz M.

 

PS: Don’t forget to check out the Stats Station by Aaron accompanying this reaction, who has the brilliant task of breaking down the numbers behind this game. Good luck, bud. You’ll need it.

 

PPS: Keep an eye out for the fun Sonnet by M as well!

 

PPPS: The great, inclusive, “boys, gals and non-binary pals” tagline is courtesy of the ever-brilliant Thomas Sanders.