Gregor scored his first shootout goal in the NHL, and Woll stopped Cousins after to give the Maple Leafs the win.
Gregor scored his first shootout goal in the NHL, and Woll stopped Cousins after to give the Maple Leafs the win.
What a crazy game that was.
Going into the game, the Maple Leafs changed up the top six, putting Mitch Marner with John Tavares and moving William Nylander to Auston Matthews' wing. In hindsight, it seemed like a great idea. However, things didn't work out so well to start.
The plan began to slip off the rails early when Marner took a puck to the face in the first period. The lines were jumbled as Nylander found his way back on Tavares' wing for a shift or two.
Marner did return in the second period, which was good news given it didn't look great when he went down. Credit to him, too, because taking a puck to the face at 70+ mph would do some damage. He toughed it out and remained in the game for Toronto.
The top six played a lot better in the latter half of the game. Marner and Matthews specifically used their bodies a lot more, a good sign when they're taking on a physical team like the Panthers.
Mark Giordano took a puck to the wrist or hand area prior to Florida's first goal of the game. He left just after Marner took a puck to the face and the veteran defenseman didn't return because of an upper-body injury, per Leafs PR.
Toward the end of the third period, the Maple Leafs had a great chance to end the game as they got a power play after Noah Gregor took a high stick. However, Toronto couldn't score, and then just before the end of the third, they took a too-many-men penalty. Again.
Each team's penalty kill didn't allow a goal, forcing the game to overtime, and then eventually the shootout. And wow, let's just say that was eventful.
Evan Rodrigues had the chance to win it for Florida, and in fact did, until the referees took a look back at the shootout attempt. Rodrigues hit the puck twice and you cannot do that, meaning both the players and fans had to make their way back to see the ending.
Gregor was summoned and he delivered a goal. Joseph Woll then stopped the final attempt and Toronto got the two points against the Panthers.
Here are a few observations from what was a mind-boggling game between the two teams.
Gregor's offensive contributions
When your top six goes cold, you need other players to step up, and thankfully for Toronto, Gregor did that on Tuesday night.
A little luck may have been involved, with the puck bouncing over Dmitry Kulikov's stick at the Maple Leafs' blue line, but Gregor stuck with it, eventually beating Anthony Stolarz over the shoulder.
That was Gregor's third goal of the season and likely his biggest goal for Toronto thus far. But credit to the entire fourth line, including David Kampf and Ryan Reaves. All three were all over the ice, and Reaves, especially, was physical against a difficult team in the Panthers.
Morgan Rielly's consistency
One of Toronto's top players this season has been Rielly. No doubt.
Going into this game, the 29-year-old defenseman had 16 points in 19 games this season while averaging 24:28 of ice time per game, the most of any player on Toronto.
Rielly was involved defensively against the Panthers, especially in the third period. First, he dived to cut off Sam Bennett's pass. That could've been a sure goal if the puck got to Matthew Tkachuk.
Not even two minutes later, Rielly makes another great defensive play, getting back and using his stick to get Nick Cousins off the puck while he's on a breakaway.
If there's any player to give the most valuable player to at the quarter point of the season, I'm giving it to Rielly. He's been able to step up while several of Toronto's defensemen have gone down with injuries. His consistency since the playoffs last spring has been fascinating to watch.
Joseph Woll on his game
This had to be one of Woll's best performances of the season thus far. The 25-year-old netminder stopped 37 of 38 shots for a .974 save percentage at the end of the game.
"He's a big reason for these two points," Rielly said following Toronto's shootout win.
Woll told TSN's Mark Masters following the game that he had gone to the dressing room following the first shootout winner. He said he had his gloves off before being told to make his way back to the ice because it was ruled no goal.
The 25-year-old then came back to the ice and made a stop on Nick Cousins, which gave the Maple Leafs a big win over the Panthers.
Related
Mark Giordano Leaves Maple Leafs Game Against Panthers With An Upper-Body Injury
Report: Maple Leafs to Unveil Pizza Pizza as New Helmet Sponsor for 2023-24 Home Games
News from THN.com
Detroit Red Wings and Patrick Kane Join Forces To Chase Past Success
Arizona Coyotes Looking To Bolster Their Roster
NHL All-Star Weekend: Player Draft, PWHL Showcase Among Plans for 2024 Toronto Event