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TORONTO – In a tense matchup on Saturday night, Mitch Marner secured victory for the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring just 36 seconds into overtime to lead his team to a 1-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. This triumph marks a significant moment for the Maple Leafs, who, with this victory, have solidified their home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz played a pivotal role, stopping 15 shots to achieve his third shutout of the season. The Maple Leafs now hold a record of 49 wins, 26 losses, and 4 overtime losses, and they maintain their position at the top of the Atlantic Division, four points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
On the opposing side, Montreal’s Jakub Dobes exhibited commendable performance as well, blocking 34 shots. While the Canadiens managed to secure a valuable point in the standings, they are grappling with a recent slump—having lost two consecutive games after a successful stretch of six wins in a row. They had a chance to clinch the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a win, following a 5-2 setback against the Ottawa Senators the previous night.
The decisive goal came after Stolarz made a crucial save against Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki at the other end of the ice, allowing Marner to capitalize on the rush during the extra period.
Key Takeaways
Toronto Maple Leafs: The team faced challenges with key defencemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe sidelined due to undisclosed injuries, forcing them to play with just five defensemen. Additionally, center David Kampf was also unavailable due to an upper-body injury, adding to the team’s woes as they navigated salary cap constraints.
Montreal Canadiens: Promising talent Ivan Demidov, who recently signed an entry-level deal after parting ways with KHL’s SKA Saint Petersburg, participated in morning skate with his new team for the first time. The 19-year-old Russian forward could be on the brink of making his NHL debut in the coming days.
Key Moment: The Canadiens faced a daunting challenge when they endured an 18-second two-man advantage in the third period, shortly after Dobes executed an impressive save against Nick Robertson, who was positioned point-blank at the side of Montreal’s net.
Key Stat: Montreal’s struggle with slow starts on the shot clock continued, recording only two shots on goal during the first period. This trend reflects a concerning pattern, as they had previously managed just four shots in the opening periods of their last four games.
Looking Ahead
The Maple Leafs are set to take on the Carolina Hurricanes in their next game on Sunday, while the Canadiens will host the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Both teams will be looking to build momentum as the playoffs approach.
Source
globalnews.ca