Maple Leafs Blow Late Lead And Lose In OT
"The Toronto Maple Leafs stumbled into the bye week with back-to-back losses and stumbled again on Tuesday night in a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Matt Martin seemed like guy who bottled up his energy over the bye week because he was involved early in the game. Just over two minutes into the game, Martin laid out Kyle Brodziak with a big hit behind the net and then dropped the gloves with Chris Thorburn immediately afterwards.
The Maple Leafs were doubled up in shots, 14-7, during the opening period despite getting the only power play of the frame. Thankfully, Frederik Andersen was on his game to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
The Leafs had a better second period as both teams added 12 more shots on goal. The home team had more quality scoring chances, but Carter Hutton stepped up to keep the Leafs off the scoreboard.
For the third time this season, the Maple Leafs started the third period in a scoreless, but unlike the other two times, they were unable to come away with a win.
Things got a little tense nine minutes into the third period when Connor Carrick was sent to the penalty box for tripping. However it was the Leafs who would score with a shorthanded tally at 10:10. Connor Brown got his stick on a pass that cause the puck to hop over the stick of Alex Pietrangelo at the blue line. Brown then beat the Blues captain to the loose puck and beat Hutton to the top left corner for his 11th goal of the year. This was the Maple Leafs third shorthanded goal of the season and the fifth one given up by the Blues.
Frederik Andersen looked to be on his way to way to his fourth shutout of the year until the Blues tied the game with just 57 seconds remaining in regulation. With Hutton on the bench for an extra attacker, former Leaf Alex Steen got to a rebound in front of the net and backhanded it past Andersen.
The Maple Leafs headed to overtime for the fourth time in the last five games and a young Toronto area native sent his hometown fans home disappointed at 1:42 of the extra time. Rookie defenseman Vince Dunn showed off his legs by skating away from Mitch Marner then looking off a pass on a 2-on-1 rush before beating Andersen for the game winner.
The Leafs will try to get back on track Thursday night when they travel to the Philadelphia Flyers, who lost to the New York Rangers 5-1 tonight. It should be an emotional night as the Flyers will be retiring Eric Lindros's number before the start of the game. "
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