2023-11-07 02:06:00
For the second time in two clashes against the Lightning, Ilya Samsonov had to be removed from his net after less than 15 minutes of play.
Despite everything, the Maple Leafs found a way to pull themselves together to ensure the comeback and win 6-5 thanks to Calle Jarnkrok’s overtime goal, his second of the game. Toronto ended a four-game losing streak.
“There were a lot of things that didn’t go our way this season,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe. But we responded a lot in these moments and we are moving forward. I’m proud of the way the players responded. »
Trailing 4-1, Auston Matthews turned the tide in the second period by scoring in quick succession. Jarnkrok tied the game at 1:55 of the third period, then Mitch Marner thought he had broken the deadlock for good before Brandon Hagel sent everyone into overtime.
“We never give up in this locker room. We are confident that this group, no matter the situation, is never beaten in a game,” commented Marner.
Jarnkrok finally closed the books after 46 seconds of action with the help of Morgan Rielly and William Nylander, who had at least one point in each of the Leafs’ games this season. In relief, Joseph Woll blocked 18 shots to earn the victory.
Matthews came very close to achieving a second consecutive hat trick, but he had to settle for two goals and an assist. Marner had a goal and three assists.
Nikita Kucherov’s fantastic four-point night was therefore overshadowed in the defeat. He collected two goals and two assists, all in the first period, to bring his total to nine points in his last two games.
“It’s getting embarrassing,” Hagel said.
The Leafs’ first line gave the Bolts’ fourth line a hard time at the start of the match and Matthew Knies opened the scoring on his team’s second shot on goal. He recovered the throw return before beating Jonas Johansson.
Just 35 seconds later, Victor Hedman brought the two teams back to zero with a good wrist shot.
Well marked, Kucherov then accepted Brandon Hagel’s pass and beat goalkeeper Samsonov. After collecting five points in his last game against Ottawa, Kucherov already had two points by contributing to Hedman’s goal.
But he didn’t stop there. Still in the first period, he scored his ninth goal of the campaign with a one-timer on one knee, then added an assist on Brayden Point’s power play goal that made it 4-1.
Samsonov then gave way to Joseph Woll like two weeks ago and he vented his frustration by throwing his helmet on the ground with all his might once he reached his team’s bench. However, he was able to count on the resilience of his teammates to get back into the game.
The Panthers get burned… but win
After blowing a three-goal lead, the Florida Panthers showed character and ultimately posted a 5-4 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Former Montreal Canadiens Nick Cousins tied the game in the last minute of the third period, then Carter Verhaeghe played the hero quickly in overtime.
“It was a good feeling,” Verhaeghe said. It’s definitely nice to have the victory, but we don’t like the way we won. We started the game well, but we let them get back into the game. In the end, there is no such thing as a bad victory. »
Matthew Tkachuk restarted the Panthers’ attack in overtime, sending Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov into overtime. Barkov fired a low shot and Verhaeghe pushed the rebound into the back of the net to cap off the victory for the Panthers.
Ryan Lomberg, Gustav Forsling and Barkov all scored in the first half of the opening period to give Florida a three-goal lead.
The Blue Jackets, however, responded with panache to take a 4-3 lead with four straight goals. Sean Kuraly, Boone Jenner, Kirill Marchenko and Alexandre Texier all scored for Columbus.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 of 22 shots faced in the victory, while Elvis Merzlikins was removed from the game after allowing three goals on 11 shots. As a replacement, Spencer Martin allowed two goals on 37 shots.
“I wasn’t surprised by our response,” Martin said. I love the guys in this locker room so much. We’re fighting and it looks like we’ve done it in a few games already. I really wish I could have given them this victory. »
The Panthers only took a little over two minutes to take the lead in the first half. After an unsuccessful surge, Lomberg recovered the puck behind the goal line and fired a shot behind goalie Elvis Merzlikins. The puck then deflected into the net and Lomberg opened the scoring.
Then just 50 seconds later, Forsling let loose a powerful slap shot from the blue line to double the lead with his second goal of the season.
The Panthers continued to impose their rhythm a few minutes later. This time, Barkov jumped on a loose puck in the slot to increase Florida’s lead to 3-0.
The Blue Jackets, however, responded before the end of the period to bring the score to 3-2. Kuraly first scored on a return shot, before seeing Jenner bring Columbus within one goal of the Panthers thanks to an excellent wrist shot in excess.
The Blue Jackets finally tied the game 3-3 midway through the middle period. During a power play, Ivan Provorov took a shot that was partially saved by Sergei Bobrovsky. The puck, however, slipped quietly behind the Panthers goaltender and Marchenko was quick to push it into the back of the net to score his second goal of the season.
Then the Jackets took the lead for the first of the game in the third period, on a lucky sequence. Outnumbered, Texier tried to put the puck back in front of the net, but his pass ricocheted off Dmitry Kulikov’s skate, then hit the post. Texier only had to push the puck into a gaping cage to make it 4-3 in favor of the Jackets.
In the final minute of the third period, Cousins intercepted a Blue Jackets punt and scored with a good wrist shot to send everyone into overtime.
Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Reilly made his debut with the Panthers after being left out of the team’s first 10 games this season.
The Panthers will return to action on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals, while the Blue Jackets have a meeting with the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
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