Leafs finally get some good luck in streak-ending win over Flames
The Maple Leafs got some scoring from some unlikely sources — Jay McClement and David Clarkson — and finally, finally, their losing streak is history.
Throw in a lucky goal by Dave Bolland — given credit for a goal after Calgary’s T.J. Brodie kicked it into his own net — and a disallowed Flames goal on a high stick, and you could say the Leafs finally enjoyed a night where the bounces from those fickle hockey gods went their way.
Yes, the Maple Leafs won a game, 3-2. Now the fretting can end and fans might even want to start believing again.
Ah, but the Leafs have to run the table, you say, and finish with a six-game winning streak — and they have the Bruins to face on Thursday night. Well, the Leafs have already won six in a row once this year, back in January. And they beat the Bruins in the second game of that six-gamer after beating New Jersey 3-2 — the same score as against Calgary on Tuesday — to get the streak going.
In addition to winning games, however, the Leafs have a bit of scoreboard-watching to do between now and the end of the season.
“You’re obviously paying attention to it,” said captain Dion Phaneuf. “You have to watch and that’s a tough position to be in. You look at other teams and when you are watching that, it’s not a good thing.”
The Air Canada Centre lacked the electricity one might normally expect on a night when this team’s architect, Brian Burke, was on hand with his new team. Maybe fans had given up. Maybe the Leafs were nervous.
There was some tepid cheering, some quiet “Go Leafs Go” chants, but nothing to exude confidence as the game commenced.
The first period was scoreless, but when the Leafs went shotless on the period’s only power play, the fans got on them with some well-deserved boos. It seemed there were two Flames on any Leaf puck carrier; somehow Calgary was out-manning the Leafs despite being down a man.
“That’s part of the game (negativity around club), and you have to feel comfortable in those situations in this market,” Leafs defenceman Cody Franson said prior to the game. A fellow blueliner agreed.
“As a player, you want to play well in Toronto,” said Morgan Rielly. “It’s a great city and good crowds, but when you don’t play well, you might hear boos.”
That is part and parcel of losing streaks, which have a way of stripping athletes of their confidence.
The second period was better for the Leafs, who scored the game’s first goal just 50 seconds into the period. McClement tipped in a Cody Franson pass for his fourth of the year.
But if there is a theme that has built up around this team — beyond an ability to hold the lead — it is that a former Leaf will always inflict damage. Alex Steen, Clarke MacArthur, John-Michael Liles, Mike Brown, Dominic Moore and Mike Kostka are among those who’ve scored against their former team this year.
Add Matt Stajan’s name to that list. His goal on a breakaway late in the second tied the game.
Bolland and Clarkson scored early in the third to open a 3-1 lead before Kris Russell scored to make it a one-goal game.
NOTES: The Leafs went with seven defencemen and 11 forwards.... Jerry D’Amigo and Colton Orr were healthy scratches.
