Special Teams Helps Leafs Beat Tampa

Special teams really helped Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 last night.

Leaf's head coach, Sheldon Keefe agrees.

"Special teams was the difference in the game," said Keefe after the game.

William Nylander put Toronto ahead 1-0 on the power play at 12:42 of the first period.

Ondrej Palat tied the game at 15:22 of the second period.

Auston Matthews scored the winner on the power play 3:38 into the third period.

Auston Matthews scored his 47th goal of the season.

Toronto's John Tavares and Mitch Marner had two assists last night.

Leaf's goalie, Frederik Andersen was spectacular again, stopping 32 shots.

Lightning's goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy, stopped 34 shots last night.

Toronto hosts the Nashville Predators tomorrow night. 

Preview: Lightning Versus Leafs

Tonight 7 p.m. EST.

Scotiabank Arena, Toronto ONT.

The Toronto Maple Leafs just finished a three-game road trip in California.

The Leafs lost all three games.

The Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on February 25.

The Leafs are 17-9-7 at home this year.

Injuries:

Tampa Bay

Jan Rutta - Lower Body - Injured reserve, (IR.),

Steven Stamkos - Core Muscle - Day-to-day,

Victor Hedman - Undisclosed - Day-to-day.

Toronto

David Clarkson - Back - IR.,

Ilya Mikheyev - Wrist Laceration - IR.,

Morgan Rielly - Fractured Foot - IR.,

Andreas Johnsson - Knee - IR.,

Jake Muzzin - Fractured Hand - Day-to-day.

Leafs Get Huge Point Despite Shoot Out Loss

It was an exiting hockey game last night at the Staple Center in Los Angeles.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the L.A. Kings squared off in an epic battle.

"I thought it was a pretty even hockey game," said Leaf's head coach, Sheldon Keefe after the game.

Anze Kopitar

Anze Kopitar scored the winning goal for L.A. in last night's shoot out to give his team the 1-0 victory.

All was not lost for the Maple Leafs, though, as the team managed to get a point in the standings.

The Leafs are now five points ahead of the Florida Panthers in the standings.

"Not a lot to complain about for us," said Keefe.

Both goalies were amazing last night, especially in overtime.

Toronto's Frederik Andersen stopped 30 shots and L.A.'s Jonathan Quick stopped 36.

Toronto wraps up their California trip against the Ducks in Anaheim tonight.

Preview: Leafs Versus Ducks

Tonight 10 p.m. EST.

Honda Center, Anaheim CA.

The Toronto Maple Leafs wrap up their three game California trip tonight in Anaheim against the Ducks.

The Leafs defeated the Ducks on February 7, 5-4 in overtime.

The Leafs lost in a shoot out last night against the Kings in Los Angeles.

Injuries:

Toronto

David Clarkson - Back - Injured reserve, (IR.),

Ilya Mikheyev - Wrist Laceration - IR.,

Morgan Rielly - Fractured Foot - IR.,

Cody Ceci - Ankle - IR.,

Andreas Johnsson - Knee - iR.,

Jake Muzzin - Fractured Hand - Day-to-day.

Anaheim

Ryan Kesler - Hip - Ir.,

Patrick Eaves - illness - IR.,

Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - IR.,

Cam Fowler - Lower Body - Day-to-day,

Hampus Lindholm - Upper Body - Day-to-day,

Josh Manson - Upper Body - Day-to-day.

Preview: Leafs Versus Kings

Tonight 10:30 p.m. EST.

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA.

The Los Angeles Kings have won three straight games.

Anze Kopitar has scored 20 goals this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Kings 3-1 on November 5.

Injuries:

Toronto

David Clarkson - Back - Injured reserve, (IR.),

Ilya Mikheyev - Wrist Laceration - IR.,

Morgan Rielly - Fractured Foot - IR.,

Cody Ceci - Ankle - IR.,

Andreas Johnsson - Knee - IR.,

Jake Muzzin - Fractured Hand - Day-today.

Los Angeles

Jeff Carter - Lower Body - Day-to-day.

Winning Streaks Ends For Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to win their fourth straight game last night, losing to the San Jose Sharks 5-2.

"You don't win games when you score two goals," said Leaf's head coach, Sheldon Keefe after the game.

Evander Kane scored on the power play at 6:38 of the first period to put the Sharks ahead 1-0.

Auston Matthews tied the game 2:48 into the second period.

Antti Suomela put San Jose ahead 2-1 at 3:54.

Mitch Marner tied the game at 17:27.

Stefan Noesen put the Sharks ahead for good at 5:48 of the third period.

Kane scored his second goal of the game at 6:38.

Evander Kane scored two goals last night.

Radim Simek finished off the Leafs with an empty netter at 19:03.

Matthews had two points.

Leaf's goalie, Jack Campbell, stopped 33 shots.

Both Suomela and Noesen had two points last night.

Toronto is off to Los Angeles to take on the Kings tomorrow night.

Preview: Leafs Versus Sharks

Tonight 10:30 p.m. EST.

SAP Center, San Jose, CA.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to win their fourth straight game tonight.

The San Jose Sharks have also won three in a row and are 12 points out of a playoff spot.

Shark's Evander Kane has four points in his past two games.

Toronto defeated the Sharks on October 25 4-1.

Injuries:

Toronto

David Clarkson - Back - Injured reserve, (IR.),

Ilya Mikheyev - Wrist Laceration - IR.,

Morgan Rielly - Fractured Foot - IR.,

Cody Ceci - Ankle - IR.,

Andreas Johnsson - Knee - IR.,

Jake Muzzin - Fractured Hand - Day-to-day.

San Jose

Dalton Prout - Upper Body - IR.,

Tomas Hertl - Torn ACL., MCL. - IR.,

Erik Karlsson - Fractured Foot - IR.,

Jacob Middleton - Leg - Day-to-day.

Leafs Win Third Straight Against Canucks

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on a roll and the timing is perfect.

Enthralled in a tight playoff race, Toronto defeated the Vancouver Canucks last night 4-2.

2:45 into the first period, Frederik Gauthier put the Leafs ahead 1-0.

Tyler Motte quickly tied the game at 5:28.

Auston Matthews scored his 45th goal of the season at 6:25 to put the Leafs ahead again.

Auston Matthews scores his 45th goal of the year last night.

Tanner Pearson tied the game at 11:01.

There was no scoring in the second period.

18 seconds into the third period, Martin Marincin put the Leafs ahead for good.

"That was a big moment for us for sure," said Leaf's head coach, Sheldon Keefe after the game. 

Zach Hyman scored an empty netter at 18:06.

Toronto's Travis Dermott and Tyson Barrie both had two assists last night.

Toronto now heads off to San Jose to play the Sharks on Tuesday night.