Auston Matthews makes game saving defensive play
With a little over five minutes to go and after the Flyers scored two quick goals to make the game 4-3, Leafs superstar Auston Matthews made a game-saving defensive play to preserve the lead, which ultimately allowed the Leafs to hold on and secure the regulation win.
Joel Farabee received a cross-ice pass and had a wide open net with Ilya Samsonov against the far post, but his shot was met by the stick of Matthews. It forced Farabee's shot wide of the yawning cage, leading to Farabee slamming his stick on the ice in frustration and looking skyward.
The Leafs ended up avoiding a dreaded repeat of history, holding on to the lead, preventing them from relapsing and suffering another loss similar to Game 7 against the Bruins in 2013 when they blew a 4-1 third period lead. They are now 7-1-1 in "Next Gen" games.
| POLL | ||
22 DECEMBRE | 222 ANSWERS Auston Matthews makes game saving defensive play Be honest, how sure were you that the Leafs weren't going to blow the 3-1 lead? | ||
| Positive | 75 | 33.8 % |
| Slighty sure | 66 | 29.7 % |
| Not too sure | 46 | 20.7 % |
| I was thought we were going to OT | 35 | 15.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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