Hyman wasn’t the only Leaf smilin’
But first goal of the season proved to be the biggest in late charge past Flyers
Eric Lindros took a bit of time out from the Hockey Hall of Fame ring ceremony on Friday to sing the praises of the new-look Maple Leafs, their high-octane rookies and hope for the team’s future.
“This city always buzzes better when the team is doing well,” said Lindros, who grew up in the city and played a season in blue and white toward the end of his career. “You pull for them naturally, because you want the city hopping, you want some good times.”
The good times — which had vanished in a dreadful 7-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday — showed up in the third period on Friday night, when the Maple Leafs scored four times en route to a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
The game was noteworthy for the number of Leafs who broke gooseeggs in the goals column. Morgan Rielly (part of a four-point night, including his 100th career point), Zach Hyman, Martin Marincin and Leo Komarov all scored for the first time this season. Hyman’s smile was probably the widest after scoring the winner on a tremendous second effort in the slot.
“I had so many chances. It’s always fun scoring goals and it’s been a while,” Hyman said. “The first one is always the hardest for me. It felt good to get that one.” Komarov had been one of only three players who scored at least 19 goals last year but yet to register one this season.
“You always want to be a goal scorer, and last year when it went my way it felt easy,” Komarov said. “This year it’s a little bit difficult. Today I got a goal and I feel good about it, but it’s a new day tomorrow.” Nazem Kadri and Mitch Marner also scored in a see-saw battle that featured goals coming every which way — breakaways at even-strength and short-handed, odd-man rushes and lucky bounces. Wayne Sim- monds had two to lead Philadelphia.
While the goals seemed to come easy for some, they didn’t for others as scoring slumps continued for rookies Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Neither has scored in eight games. Matthews has two assists in that time, including one on Hyman’s goal, while Nylander has three assists since his last goal.
With the Leafs struggling through two periods, coach Mike Babcock juggled his lines — splitting up Matthews and Nylander. Connor Brown moved to the right side with Matthews and Hyman, while Nylander took Brown’s spot with Kadri and Komarov.
“Two kids trying to get going,” Babcock said. “I thought putting Nylan- der with the guys that check gives him something else to think about. I thought Matthews played well without the puck, good down low, and competed hard. He gets tons of chances every night. Keep doing that and he’ll fill the net.”
More changes are coming. The Leafs, now 5-2-0 on home ice, packed their bags quickly for a flight to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins Saturday. The coach said he’d consider inserting Friday’s three healthy scratches: Frankie Corrado, Matt Hunwick and Peter Holland. He didn’t say who’d come out, and was non-commital on whether Jhonas Enroth would get the start in net.
The hall of fame class of 2016 was feted at centre ice before the game. Lindros, Sergei Makarov, Rogie Vachon and the late Pat Quinn will be inducted Monday.