We noticed the Toronto Maple Leafs play a uncommon Sunday afternoon recreation in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins have been taking part in the second half of a back-to-back after dropping to the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Recreation Recap
The sport began with goalie Joel Blomqvist making a save on the primary shot, one thing the Penguins’ goalies haven’t executed in three straight video games. Nonetheless, the Maple Leafs would open the scoring on their fourth shot of the sport when Max Domi whacked a rebound into the Penguins’ web.
It will not take lengthy for the Maple Leafs to increase their result in two, with Conor Timmins scoring their second purpose 4 minutes into the interval on a wonderfully positioned shot to the highest proper nook. Thirty seconds after the mid-way level of the primary body, the Penguins received on the board after Blake Lizotte discovered Ryan Shea for a one-timer, which beat Joseph Woll. They might then tie the sport a minute in a while a purpose from Rickard Rakell, recording his five hundredth profession level.
The Penguins then added their third straight unanswered purpose on an influence play purpose from Sidney Crosby on a shot Woll ought to have saved. It was an eventful first interval that completed 3-2. After some early stress from the Penguins within the second, Auston Matthews tied the sport for the Maple Leafs, his first time scoring on a goaltender in additional than 10 video games in the event you embody the 4 Nations Face-Off. This purpose moved Matthews into second in targets in Maple Leafs franchise historical past.
The Penguins then regained the 4-3 lead with 4 minutes to play within the second interval on a defensive breakdown by the Maple Leafs, which let Bryan Rust in alone on Woll. With an help on the purpose, Crosby took sole possession of tenth on the all-time help checklist. The Maple Leafs fully flipped the script within the final minute of the second interval, with John Tavares scoring with 55 seconds left and Matthew Knies scoring a buzzer-beater with 0.9 seconds left on the clock to take a 5-4 lead going into the ultimate body.
Ten seconds into the third interval, the Penguins tied the sport when Rakell discovered himself alone in opposition to Woll for his second of the sport. The goalies lastly made some saves and held the remainder of the third interval scoreless. This recreation wanted additional time to be determined, the place William Nylander scored his thirty fifth purpose of the season to provide the Maple Leafs a 6-5 win in a recreation the place defence and goaltending appeared elective.
