The Leafs again had a poor start, and while they did manage to get level in the game, they weren't able to avoid a seventh straight defeat. A fair bit of it was down to special teams, with Philadelphia producing a pair of powerplay goals and the Leafs unable to cash in with the man advantage.
Toronto generated only three chances in the first period, and gave up ten overall, six at even strength. This included a Flyer goal, coming right at the start of a 5-on-3. Toronto responded well in the second, getting level almost immediately, and getting the better of the first half of the period, before Philadelphia pulled back ahead with another powerplay goal.
The third was an even period, but Giroux got a critical goal to re-establish the two-goal lead, and while Bolland was able to pull one back for the Leafs, that was as close as they'd come, as they didn't manage a single chance in the last 13 minutes, with a goal from Wayne Simmonds sealing Philly's win.
A more even game than the last couple, with the Leafs losing out 10-14 at ES, though 14-21 overall, thanks to the Flyers' powerplay chances. The ES close chances also went to the Flyers, 9-6.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Philadelphia |
Toronto |
Philadelphia |
| 1 |
3 |
10 |
3 |
6 |
| 2 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| 3 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
| Total |
14 |
21 |
10 |
14 |
Details below.
A very similar story to the game with the Rangers, as the Leafs stormed out to an early lead, only to give it up in the third period, not just once, but twice. However, they managed to survive to overtime, and scored on their lone chance, making it back to back wins, and four of five games since the Olympic break decided in the extra period.
The Leafs had their best first period of the season in this game, dominating the Flyers 9-2 at even strength, including two goals in the first five minutes that left Philadelphia reeling. The Flyers did manage to generate some chances on a powerplay, but Toronto were in command after one.
The two teams were pretty even in the second, with Toronto having the upper hand in the first half of the frame, but the Flyers responding strongly, getting seven of the last eight chances of the period, capping it with a goal from Kimmo Timonen to cut the lead to one.
While the Leafs managed to blow a pair of leads in the third, it was actually a pretty strong performance from them, relative to how things have gone in third periods this year, as they actually outchanced the Flyers, 5-3. However, a pair of Flyer goals, sandwiching a Mason Raymond marker, pushed the game to overtime, where Joffrey Lupul scored on the only chance.
Back to back wins in chances, as the Leafs dominated the game, winning ES chances 22-12, and close chances 7-1, thanks to their hot start.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Philadelphia |
Toronto |
Philadelphia |
| 1 |
9 |
5 |
9 |
2 |
| 2 |
7 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
| 3 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
| 4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Total |
23 |
18 |
22 |
12 |
Details below.
The second game of a back-to-back of road home openers saw the Leafs head to Philadelphia. In a similar story to their opening game, the first period was a struggle, as they took six minutes in penalties, and faced a myriad of Flyer chances, eventually giving up a goal in the last 10 seconds of the frame. They settled down in the second, though they still faced some penalty trouble, and pulled level late in the period with Kessel's first of his big new contract. Dave Bolland was then the man in the third, scoring early for the game winner, and adding a late insurance marker.
Of particular note was just how well the Leafs defended with a lead in the third, compared to the other parts of the game; the last ten minutes saw just two Philadelphia chances, and neither of those were really 1-A grade. While they were saved a desperate last minute scramble by a late penalty, they successfully bottled up the Flyers in the last few minutes. When the games have been more open early this year, Toronto hasn't been great, but when they've buckled down, they have managed to control chances and stay even.
