The Leafs’ Turkey Day matinee was not festive, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Red Wings Monday afternoon at the Scotiabank Arena.
In a reversal of form from their Saturday night contest, when the Leafs were outplayed early, yet managed a 2-0 first-period lead, it was the Leafs that burst out of the gate Monday peppering goalie Cam Talbot with 13 first-period shots. But the Detroit net-minder was equal to the task and turned them all away.
The game remained scoreless until the 18:55 mark of the first, when Dylan Larkin out-battled three Toronto defenders in front of the net, then roofed the puck past Anthony Stolarz for a power-play goal, making it 1-0 Detroit.
The Leafs continued their dominant play in the second, limiting Detroit to only four shots while creating several scoring chances of their own. But again, they could not find the back of the net.
A little over four minutes into the third, an unfortunate turnover off an offensive zone face-off win resulted in a two-on-one going the other way with James van Riemsdyk beating Stolarz to make it 2-0.
Toronto’s hard work and aggressive play finally paid off at the 7:29 mark. Bobby McMann made a nice play off the boards to elude a Detroit defender and fed the puck to Matthew Knies, who beat Talbot to make it 2-1.
The Leafs kept the pressure up and, with a little over six minutes left in the period, tied the game on Calle Jarnkrok’s third of the season. The hot starting winger fired one past Talbot from inside the circle after receiving a behind-the-back, falling down Knies’ pass from the goal line.
Unfortunately, the excitement in the Scotiabank Arena was cut short, as the Red Wings responded with the game-winner. With just 45 seconds remaining, a tumbling Mason Appleton gathered in a puck that had bounced off Auston Matthews’ skate and shot it past Stolarz to make it 3-2.
The 1-2 Leafs are back in action tomorrow night, hosting the Nashville Predators, 7pm at the Scotia Bank Arena.
Game Note: Easton Cowan made his NHL debut Monday for the Leafs. Mainly paired with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, the rookie winger contributed one shot and 3 hits in just over 14 minutes of ice time.
