Recap: Auston Matthews scores 30th in arid win over…

It was a low-scoring, flat, and frustrating win for the Leafs fans who stayed up to watch Toronto just barely keep their shutout-less streak alive late in the third period, and to witness Auston Matthews scoring his 30th goal of the season to win the game in overtime against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Leafs threw 14 shot attempts at Lukas Dostal over 62 minutes of hockey, including five power plays. And of their 57 shots on goal, they got #50 and #57 to hit the twine at the back of the net. John Tavares tied the game on the power play with five minutes left in regulation, and Matthews scored his league-leading 30th goal of the season in overtime. Frank Vatrano capitalized on a poor turnover by the third line for Anaheim’s lone goal.

Bertuzzi was getting some attention on the broadcast after his multi-point game last night. However, it’s not points that correlate to Bertuzzi’s value for the Leafs, but instead the effort, won pucks, and plays made on both sides of the ice.It was a very drowsy first period that had very good odds of sending you, dear reader, to bed. Hopefully things got more exciting in the later 40.Shots were 21-17 in favour of the Leafs, but they had a much stronger advantage in terms of shot locations. Expected goals were 67% in favour of the Leafs, and they had seven high danger chances to Anaheim’s one. This was all at 5v5, on the Leafs lone power play, they took an astonishing 12 shots (six on target), good for 1.3 expected goals, but bounces didn’t gerthe puck over the line

Harlem Globetrotters shift for the Leafs as they had possession in the offensive zone for a minute and a half.

Lyubushkin fought McMann for a hit into the boards on rookie Pavel Mintyukov. After the fight, McMann was given a 5 minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. His game was done. Mintyukov also left the ice, down the tunnel for medical assessments. Lyubushkin got a 2 minute minor for instigating.

What this meant for the game was 4v4 for two minutes, and then a three-minute 5v4 power play for Anaheim. Pontus Holmberg served the major penalty for McMann.

I thought the penalty was fair. I’d like to see more of those hits result in ejections. That, and the fight, also wrapped up any retribution potential from the Ducks, by design.

For much of the game, it’s looked like the Leafs were on the power play when it was 5v5. Now with the Ducks on the power play, the Leafs are playing them like it’s even strength – and it’s working.

Killorn didn’t listen to the refs to cool off and took a penalty after a whistle, ending the extended power play and giving the Leafs one after a short bit of 4v4.