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Lack of hustle and undisciplined play lead to 5-2 loss
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Leaf goalie Jonas Gustavsson shows some frustration after allowing a Minnesota goal
For a 5-2 loss at the hands of Minnesota, the last minute of the game could not have been much more exciting for Leaf fans. Down 4-2 with just under a minute to play, Toronto was handed a 5-on-3 (really 6-on-3 because of the extra-attacker) advantage but failed to capitalize. Niklas Backstrom made several huge saves to preserve the win in the dying seconds as Owen Nolan backhanded in the extra insurance with a rare 3-man short-handed goal.
Martin Havlat scored his second of the season in the dying minutes of the first on a wraparound that fooled Gustavsson, but Ponikarovsky responded just 26 seconds later to tie it for the Leafs. This was the 14th time (out of 16) that Toronto has been scored against first. The Leafs are really putting themselves at a real disadvantage by continually spotting their opponents the lead. Statistically the team that scores the first goal will win 70% of the time!
The turning point in the game came on a second period 5-on-3 Minnesota powerplay that was the result of a mental error by Ponikarovsky when he shot the puck out of play. Zidlicky's point shot ripped past Gustavsson giving the Wild a 2-1 lead that they held the rest of the way.
The Leafs looked lethargic especially in the second period when they were constantly out-hustled to the puck. The Wild's third goal was directly a result of Luke Schenn being beaten to the puck. While the Leaf unit was tired after being forced to stay on the ice after an icing call, these players are expected to be in good enough shape to keep up the intensity level for as long as needed.
Lost in the outcome was Phil Kessel's 2nd goal as a Leaf that came on a great pass from Jeff Finger that sprung the new Leaf on a mini-breakaway in the third period. Jonas Gustavsson was the victim of a few bad passes. While the Leaf tender may have been responsible for Havlat's wraparound and Zidlicky's slapshot, Koivu and Zanon's goals were scored on tip-ins that he had no chance on. Don't be expecting a drastic switch to Toskala from coach Ron Wilson any time soon.
3 Stars:
1) Niklas Backstrom (stopped 37 of 39 shots faced and stood on his head in the third period)
2) Mikko Koivu (1 G, 2 A, aside from a careless delay of game penalty in last minute of the game, played outstanding from start to finish)
3) Tomas Kaberle (2 A, 3 shots, 23:58 TOI, continues to put up points and leads team with 20 points)
Next up: Toronto vs Chicago on Friday
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