A perfect response from the Leafs after their worst game of the season, as they played an even game with a strong LA team, and some great goaltending, from both Reimer and Bernier, and an opportunistic shorthanded goal, allowed them to leave California with four points.
LA's fast start, getting a goal and the first five chances, was worrisome after how poor the Leafs were in San Jose, but Toronto responded well, getting some solid chances on the powerplay, and coming back to be nearly level on the period at even strength as well. Kopitar pulled the home side ahead by two, but a critical powerplay goal from Phaneuf kept the lead to one.
The second period was also a close one, with the pattern going almost in reverse, as the start of the period was won by the Leafs, including getting an equalizing goal from Gunnarsson. After that, LA took charge, but Reimer was able to keep them at bay.
The third period started fairly cagily, but a spectacular sequence featuring a huge Reimer save and a shorthanded goal from Raymond at the other end saw the Leafs move into the lead. After that, the Kings were chasing the victory, and while they did manage a couple of chances with the net empty, they only managed three at ES in the fifteen minutes they were chasing, a fairly successful result for the Leafs.
The Leafs narrowly lost each period, but were close overall, losing 14-10. They also lost ES close, but it was a tight one as well, 11-8.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Los Angeles |
Toronto |
Los Angeles |
| 1 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
| 2 |
6 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
| 3 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
| Total |
18 |
22 |
10 |
14 |
Details below.
Toronto outchancing both Boston and Los Angeles is a positive step for the team, despite the fact that both games ended in defeat. Part of this is due to Toronto chasing the game for substantial stretches, but this was still an excellent performance against a top quality team.
The Kings had a solid early start, and took the lead on the powerplay through Drew Doughty, but Toronto stormed back in the second half of the first period, outchancing the Kings 5-1 after the Doughty goal. The second half of the second period was a further domination, as after giving up a couple of early chances, Toronto again started to generate a lot of chances, though this time they were helped by some effective play with the extra man, including a goal from a blueliner, when Cody Franson scored on the powerplay.
The third was another strong Leaf period, but they were unlucky, as two of the Kings' four chances ended up in their net, while they weren't able to generate a goal themselves. They were better chasing a lead than they've been at times this year, though.
A broad win in terms of chances, with the Leafs beating out LA by nine at even strength. That's tied for a season best with a game against Buffalo, not exactly an opponent of the same quality. The Kings were playing the second of a back-to-back, but this was still a strong game for Toronto, and if they'd gotten some lucky bounces, or some weaker goaltending from the opponent, they could have earned a result. Definitely a big positive in a tough stretch of the season.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Los Angeles |
Toronto |
Los Angeles |
| 1 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
| 2 |
9 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
| 3 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
| Total |
24 |
11 |
19 |
10 |
Details below.
