Pitlick scores in overtime, Leafs lose second meeting against Canadiens this season
The Toronto Maple Leafs started the game strong but couldn’t hang on against their rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, in a 3-2 overtime loss.
Toronto outshot the Habs 15-4 in the first period including a goal from defenceman Mark Giordano 53 seconds in. For Giordano, his second goal in as many games. He is also the only Leafs’ defenceman to score twice in the same month in different games.
Auston Matthews assisted on the Giordano marker improving his point streak to a season-best nine games with seven goals and five assists.
Calle Jarnkrok finished off the first with his 10th of the year giving the Buds a 2-0 lead.
Sam Montembeault was the star for the Canadiens. He stopped every shot he saw after Jarnkrok’s tally for 36 saves on 38 shots.
Burlington Ontario native Josh Anderson scored a minute and a half in to the second to cut the lead before Rafael Harvey-Pinard scored his first NHL goal to tie it. The Canadiens outshot Toronto 18-8 in the second frame.
Ilya Samsonov stood tall for the Leafs in this one stopping 28 of 31.
Nothing was solved in the third period even with a penalty on the Leafs in the final two minutes of play. William Nylander was buzzing all night and jumped out of the box to get a chance on Montembeault but was turned away. Blocked shots were the story of the night for the Habs with a total of 23. The Leafs had 14.
In overtime, Rem Pitlick ended with a nice wrist shot over the arm of Samsonov. This is the second time this season the Canadiens have beaten the Leafs. The first being game one of the season for both teams, with Montreal winning 4-3 on home ice.
These teams meet again in Toronto, February 18th.
For the Leafs, they have managed at least a point in their last three games. They sit second in the Atlantic division, five points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning and 12 back of the Boston Bruins.
They head back to Toronto for a showdown with the New York Islanders.
TOR Scoring: Giordano (3), Jarnkrok (10)
MTL Scoring: Anderson (14), Harvey-Pinard (1), Pitlick OT (3)