Tavares Gets First Hat-Trick As A Leaf

John Tavares, (above), got his first hat-trick as a Leaf against Chicago last night.

Going into last night's game, I had my doubts about the Toronto Maple Leafs defeating the Chicago Blackhawks.

After all, the team played terrible against the Ottawa Senators the night before.

Also, Garret Sparks was in net last night.

Sparks was unimpressive in the preseason.

Last night, though, Sparks proved me wrong.  He was terrific in the first nine minutes of the game.

The first two goals wasn't even his fault.

The Leaf's defense didn't help Sparks.

What really helped the Leafs last night is having Kasperi Kapanen and Auston Matthews on the same line.

Leaf's head coach, Mike Babcock, put Kapanen and Matthews on the same line mid-way through the first period.

It worked.

Kapanen got the Leaf's first goal at 14:43 of the first period.

Matthews tied the game 2-2 34 seconds later. 

Matthews ended the night with four points.

Auston Matthews

3:56 into the second period, John Tavares put the Leafs ahead 3-2. 

Tavares got his first hat-trick as a Leaf last night.  It was also his ninth career hat-trick.

At the end of the second period, the Leafs were ahead 4-3

2:20 into the third period, Brandon Manning tied the game 4-4.

At  9:29, Tavares completed the hat-trick.

With extra attacker, Patrick Kane tied the game 5-5.

Matthews put the Leafs ahead at 18:58.

With the extra attacker again, Kane tied the game.

Off to overtime.

19 seconds into O.T., Morgan Rielly scored the winner for Toronto.

Toronto head off to Dallas to play the Stars tomorrow night.