Maple Leafs Head Into All-Star Break On A High Note
"The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to return home for the All-Star break with four points after a very tough set of back-to-back games against the Blackhawks and Stars by beating Dallas 4-1 on Thursday night.
Mike Babcock said that Nazem Kadri would return to a line with Leo Komarov when the team gets back home ice, but he might want to rethink that strategy. After scoring in Chicago last night, Kadri opened the scoring tonight at 15:50 of the first period. Jake Gardiner made a drop pass from the side of the net to Mitch Marner who passed across the slot to Kadri for the one-timer.
Zach Hyman doubled the Leafs lead with his ninth goal of the season 1:55 into the second period. William Nylander's initial shot on the rush hit off of Ben Bishop's shoulder and Hyman drove hard to the net to push the rebound over the goal line.
Seven and a half minutes later, Kadri struck again on the power play to extend the lead to 3-0. Kadri got to a loose puck at the top of the left circle and quickly shot it towards the net where it hit Mattias Janmark in the slot and got in behind Bishop.
Tyler Seguin got the home team on the board with just over two minutes remaining in the middle frame by ripping a one-timer from the slot, off a feed by Alexander Radulov, over the glove hand of Curtis McElhinney.
Auston Matthews wanted nothing to do with a Stars comeback by scoring his team-high 22nd goal of the year 2:38 into the third period. Nylander led a 3-on-1 rush after a neutral zone turnover and fed Matthews to his right who blasted a one-timer past Bishop.
After going through a stretch of just six wins in 18 games, these two road wins over the Blackhawks and Stars have to make everyone feel a little better about this team. Everyone but Auston Matthews will in enjoy some time off before getting back to work on Wednesday when they host the New York Islanders. "
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