Leafs lose 2-1 to St. Louis
If the Maple Leafs can keep holding opponents to one regulation goal a night, they’ll stay alive for a playoff spot.
Though they dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night, they registered a second straight defensive effort and have three of a possible four points on this home stand. Vladimir Tarasenko won it 20 seconds into the extra frame.
Frederik Andersen had been having a good bounce-back start, making 38 saves, while Jake Allen was bidding for his second win over the Leafs in a week. The Leafs pressed harder for the win in regulation, but Allen stood firm and Leo Komarov’s goal with 3.2 seconds remaining came after the whistle of their 32nd shot.
The standings in the East continue to be tight with Boston winning its first game under new coach Bruce Cassidy and the Sens coming into the evening tied with Toronto. With the trade deadline now less than three weeks away, there was also extra attention paid to the Leafs having pro scout Mike Penny in Denver for a game where the Avalanche are in sell mode.
When Morgan Rielly knocked in a Nazem Kadri rebound late in the first it ended Allen’s bid for the first St. Louis shutout in Toronto since ex-Leaf Grant Fuhr at the Gardens in 1997.
Rielly, labouring a bit the past few games with a high ankle sprain, picked up his second of the year, but much of the credit goes to a full-steam Kadri rush up the right side. His shot was touched ever so slightly with a bounce of his stick was William Nylander, giving the Leafs 21 straight goals involving a rookie, going back to the last goal in Detroit on Jan. 24.
Toronto’s first power play of the game didn’t come until midway through the third period and passed without incident with disaster avoided when Alex Pietrangelo shooting wide on a breakaway after exiting the box. They’re still holding the No.2 spot in special teams with the man advantage.
Nikita Soshnikov, singled out for praise by Mike Babcock of late for a strong two-way game, was a late scratch with an upper body injury. That brought Josh Leivo into the lineup for the first time in 13 games. In a switch that didn’t survive much past the first shift, Nylander changed right wing positions with Connor Brown on the all-freshman line with Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman.
The Leafs tightrope between flashy offence and high risk defence was highlighted again in the first period. They gave up 17 shots - on top of 16 against Dallas to open the last game - and were fortunate not to be behind more than one goal.
Andsersen returned to the net after Curtis McElhinney’s stellar home start against Dallas and was quickly under seige. On the Blues’ second shot, after a couple of fumbles that included a Jake Gardiner gift - Patrik Ber- glund had a clean look and beat Andersen for his 21st on the glove side. The wait continues for Alexey Marchenko’s first game, a week after being claimed on waivers from Detroit.
Andersen had to be alert the rest of the frame with the Leafs losing 1-on-1 battles and getting all manner of shots away from bad angles. A downed Andersen was briefly parted from his goal stick in one scramble, yet calmly positioned himself to snare Colton Parayko’s shot as if he was catching a beer can someone tossed him on his sofa.
The Leafs also had to kill a penalty, rare call against Auston, who says he prides himself on a clean game. It was the No. 1 overall pick’s sixth minor in 53 games.
Toronto’s four-game stand at the ACC continues Saturday against Buffalo, which Andersen has two wins against in as many starts. The Leafs’ ability to win a season’s series against their long-time nemesis will go a long way to sustaining any playoff hopes.