It seemed as this might be another result for the Leafs despite themselves; they were outchanced in the first period, but came just seconds from escaping the period with a lead. After that, though, they were thoroughly outplayed, and ended up taking a deserving defeat that will pretty much eliminate them from any playoff chance.
After a goal and a couple of early chances, Winnipeg seized control, getting six straight chances, and pulling the game level. Toronto then scored a second off a terrible giveaway, and had a few chances of their own in the last two minutes, until Winnipeg got one back at the death.
Toronto had a decent start to the second, but after a powerplay midway through the period that failed to score, Winnipeg took over, again getting six straight chances, as well as taking a 3-2 lead.
With their season on the line, the Leafs' chase in the third period was pathetic. They generated just two ES chances, while Winnipeg came up with seven. A fourth goal from Jokinen gave the Jets some insurance, but they may not have ended up needing it anyways.
A terrible performance from Toronto, outchanced 22-13 overall and 19-8 at ES. This included the 7-2 in the third period and 5-1 in the second. The ES close numbers also favoured Winnipeg, 12-6.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Winnipeg |
Toronto |
Winnipeg |
| 1 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
| 2 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
| 3 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
7 |
| Total |
13 |
22 |
8 |
19 |
Details below.
Falling behind 4-1 midway through the second, it seemed as if it could be another long night for Toronto, but this time they managed to get their game together, pulling back the lead in the dying minutes to earn a point, though they weren't able to survive to the shootout, where they've been so effective.
The Leafs were the better team in generating chances in the opening period, but some good opportunism from Winnipeg, and some less than effective goaltending from Reimer, meant that the home side finished the period with a two-goal lead.
The Jets had a much stronger second, and were rewarded midway through the period with a quick pair of goals, chasing James Reimer from the net with the Leafs down 4-1. The Leafs were able to cut the lead to one by the end of the period, without generating a lot of chances. Gleason and Phaneuf both scored goals from the point in the period, which counted on the scoreboard, but not as chances.
Toronto were able to get level in the third, with Phil Kessel getting the tying goal in the last two minutes, but they weren't all that effective in the period, as Winnipeg actually outchanced them in the final frame. Winnipeg then won the game in OT, converting one of their two chances.
After the Leafs' strong start, Winnipeg came back well, winning the last three periods 11-6, as the Leafs were ineffective in generating chances in the chase, and fortunate to end up getting level. Toronto did manage to win close chances, 5-3.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Winnipeg |
Toronto |
Winnipeg |
| 1 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
| 2 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
6 |
| 3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| 4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
| Total |
15 |
19 |
12 |
15 |
Details below.
