Knee Jerk Reaction: Maple Leafs’ offence comes alive in 7-4 win vs. Predators

Knee Jerk Reaction: Maple Leafs’ offence comes alive in 7-4 win vs. Predators

by

Four different players on the Toronto Maple Leafs tallied three points in a 7-4 win against the Nashville Predators.

John Tavares, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Matthew Knies, and William Nylander each had three points in the offensive outburst, which was desperately needed after two losses to the Detroit Red Wings. In the middle of all of this was top prospect Easton Cowan’s first NHL point, which game in the third period on the first of two goals for Auston Matthews. Cayden Primeau allowed a couple of goals he’d probably like back near the end of the game, but he stopped 27 of 31 shots to pick up a win in his debut with the Maple Leafs.

Ekman-Larsson specifically had himself a night from the back end, scoring his first goal of the season and notching a pair of pretty assists to go with it. His goal was actually an intended deflection for Matias Maccelli, but caught Ozzy Wiesblatt’s stick on the way into the net.

Despite the Predators taking advantage of the Maple Leafs’ bad second period habit early this season by scoring two quick goals, the Leafs got the two-goal lead back before the end of the period, with Ekman-Larsson assisting on both.

It was an improved effort for the stars, too. Auston Matthews picked up his second and third goals of the season including his first on a goalie, which featured the aforementioned first point from Cowan. Nylander probably would have preferred to score his goal on an actual goaltender, but after the past couple of games he’ll take them however they come. In the end, he seemed to respond positively to Craig Berube’s call-out following Monday’s game.

Overall it was a solid bounce-back effort and probably one that anybody who has watched this team for the past half-decade could have predicted. They dropped a game to an inferior team that they outplayed on Monday, meaning that Tuesday they were going to come back with a vengeance and score in bunches. It’s the Maple Leafs experience, baby!

Sponsored by bet365

Leave a Comment