Matt Murray wins first win for Maple Leafs against old Penguin friend
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PITTSBURGH – Matt Murray has the perfect seat to watch the Pittsburgh Penguins exert their offensive magic through five seasons and two Stanley Cups.
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That Sidney Crosby-Evgeny Malkin brew is still going strong, but his new squad returned to the PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday to show their talent. A timely save was needed to preserve his 5-2 Finals win, his first with the Maple Leafs.
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Ready to roll after losing to Ottawa following an initial groin injury, Murray made 35 saves after the Leafs went sloppy with a 3–0 lead. There were several stoppages midway through the final period on Pittsburgh’s third power play of the night before William Nylander’s empty net.
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Toronto’s record has been above .500 (9-5-3) in seven of its last eight games, including a two-game win streak without TJ Brody on defense, and he’s ready for three games at home. is coming back.
At 2:38 into the interim period, Ouston Matthews was inches away until it was 4-0 before a close-quarters chance rebounded to nearly tie the game for Penns 3-1.
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Despite a few snoozes in the first shift of the period that led to opponents’ goals this season, the Leafs scored 11 ticks to win Matthews 2–1 over Michael Bunting. The latter is trying to get out of its early-season funk.
But once that line left the ice, Pittsburgh woke up and set up a screen for Rickard Raquel to beat Murray. Earned points and added 68 points.th 42 appearances in Ruckel’s strike.
And the Leafs knew Crosby was going to be a factor at some stage, as Crosby dropped Rasmus Sandin with a backhand move and flicked high to Murray.
Murray made a big stop on Jake Gentzel (power play) and Chris Letang kept the low down with a nice dish from Ruckel before Bunting converted it into late-game pressure. Pontus Holmberg scored his first NHL point with that goal on a line change.
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Bunting’s tally at the start and end of the second period (11 seconds from the start of the frame, 50 seconds left in the middle stanza) made him a rare companion. According to NHL Stats, the Leafs scored in his first and last minute of the period was Darryl Sitler (his 0:25 and his 19:25 in the first period on October 26, 1980). 55) and Bob Davidson (0:25). February 6, 1943 3rd Period 30th and 19:32).
The Leafs did not allow Pence to get very close to Murray in the first period, except for one ineffective power play. Putting much of that frame into the pack first, it paid off for the Leafs at 12:04. Alex Carfoot dug it up for Jordy Benn in the wall and found John Tavares at the top of the slot.
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Tavares’ NHL goal number 400 resulted in his final 128 as Leaf after coming from Long Island. Toronto came back with another goal, including Taveras, after Crosby missed Murray’s glove side with a partial break. He crossed the blue line to find Morgan Lilly, crossed Pittsburgh coverage, and allowed Lilly to look for an open Mitch Marner. Marner, who had just two goals in his last nine games, could not spare much time to beat Casey Dessmith.
For the second game in a row, manager Sheldon Keef flipped right wing Marner and Nylander in the top two line, costing Nick Robertson Holmberg as the third line center between Pierre Engvall and Kare Jahnklok. Activated.
He also gave duty to more penalty kills, starting with Jernklok’s first minor after Ben entered the injured Brody lineup. Benn also stopped the Penguins from jamming the puck by going past the post in that wild second period, nearly converting a shorthanded chance in the third.
lhornby@postmedia.com
Matt Murray wins first win for Maple Leafs against old Penguin friend
Source link Matt Murray wins first win for Maple Leafs against old Penguin friend