Last night, the Vancouver Canucks edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1. The win extended the Canucks’ winning streak and broke the Maple Leafs’. It’s the last game for both teams as they head into the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Related: Canucks Defeat Maple Leafs 2-1 in Close Game
For Vancouver, Brock Boeser’s power-play goal at 8:56 of the third period was the game-winner. Defenseman Filip Hronek scored the game’s opening goal and added an assist to power his team’s offense. Defenseman Morgan Rielly scored the only goal for the Maple Leafs, with Auston Matthews registering an assist. Matthews had a chance to tie it late in the game, but the Canucks’ backup goalie, Kevin Lankinen, made a great diving save to frustrate the Toronto captain.
Item 1: Woll Plays Great, Gets Tough Loss
Joseph Woll had another strong performance in the Toronto net. He made 23 saves and kept his team in the game. The loss ended his two-game winning streak. He’s been solid this season and now has put up a 19-11-0 record with a 2.65 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. In this one, the other goalies were just better on the night, stopping one more than he did.
Now that Anthony Stolarz has returned from his knee injury, he and Woll will probably settle into a one-game-on and one-game-off workload. Woll’s played more games than he’s used to this season, but he’s handled the heavier workload well. Still, a lighter load should help both goalies stay in fighting form. Both goalies can make key saves; if they can stay healthy, the team’s goalie situation should be the least of their worries.
Item 2: Morgan Rielly Breaks 14-Game Goal Drought
Morgan Rielly netted his first goal in 14 games against Vancouver – the city he grew up in. The defenseman’s goal came with just six seconds left in the second period when he slid a shot past a screened Kevin Lankinen just after time had run out on a Maple Leafs power play. The goal had to have spelled relief for Rielly, who hadn’t scored in over a month (since Jan. 5).
As noted, Rielly is a native of Vancouver, and his mom and dad were in the crowd. It had to be a nice feeling. Although he’s struggled in head coach Craig Berube’s system this season, with only 26 points in 55 games, he’s on a bit of a recent roll. His goal pushed his point streak to four games, with one goal and three assists…
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