The Maple Leafs dug themselves a 3-0 hole early on Wednesday, looking like a team that forgot how to play defense, but man, did they ever claw their way back in a game that felt like it had everything. Honestly, their penalty kill was so bad in the first period, it was just brutal to watch. And the even-strength play? Not much better. It felt like they thought scoring goals was the only thing on the menu.
McKenna Shines Amidst the Early Mess
Amidst all that early chaos, there was one shining moment that made you jump out of your seat: Gavin McKenna’s first NHL goal. That kid’s first point and then BOOM, his first goal! It was a brilliant play started by Jack Roslovic at the line that set it all up. That goal was seriously the silver lining in a first period where the Leafs’ defense and PK were just getting shredded. Their expected goals against on the penalty kill was already sixth highest in the league before this game, and you could see why early on. They were giving up everything.
The Wild Ride Back to Victory
But this team, they absolutely refused to quit. Jack Roslovic, the same guy who sparked McKenna’s goal, stepped up HUGE again, tying the game at four-all in the third period with a slick move over Saros. Seriously, what a comeback! Of course, it wasn’t without its bumps. William Nylander had a beauty that was *just* barely offside, which felt like a gut punch at the time. Overtime was a whole different level of anxiety. Starting with Roslovic, Matthews, and Raddysh was an interesting call, and they got absolutely pinned in their own zone. It felt like it should’ve ended right there. Then there was a three-on-Matthews, broken up miraculously by Easton Cowan. And then, I kid you not, a three-on-nothing break that Cowan again, well, let’s just say he had some help making sure it wasn’t a goal. You almost wanted to invent a new stat: “anti-assists.”
Despite all the wild swings, the Leafs found a way to win it. Auston Matthews, after one of those legendary long shifts he’s known for, absolutely buried the game-winner. And you gotta give massive props to William Nylander for that setup, a total mega-assist that sealed the deal. Last season, the team often looked disjointed, like nothing was clicking. This game, though, was all over the place because *some* parts were definitely working. That’s the critical piece they need to build on.
Coach Hiller wasn’t afraid to shake things up, either. We saw a lot of line juggling late in the game, with Easton Cowan swapping spots with Gavin McKenna, and William Nylander getting some time on the top line while Kirill Marchenko dropped down to the Tavares line. It clearly worked well, and Hiller needs to keep that flexibility going. It’s not about fixing just one line, it’s about making the whole team better. You know, it really felt like the Preds were dominating the first period, but looking back, it was almost entirely due to their one power play. Goals, and the order they come in, can really mess with your perception of a game. But what a push from the Leafs at the end! That was genuinely fun to watch. They played like they meant to win, and even when they messed up, they just kept going. You gotta like that grit.
In other league news, Aleksander Barkov is unfortunately out for the Panthers for six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury. Rough break for them, especially since he missed all of last season and this is only his second game back.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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