Ryan Reaves Scores First, Third Line Adds Scoring, but Maple Leafs Let Game Slip Away in OT Loss to Blackhawks
William Nylander did not register a point, ending his record-breaking point streak at 17 games.
You'd think the Maple Leafs were still in Sweden with the time of Friday's game. But they weren't. It was just a Friday afternoon American Thanksgiving weekend matchup in Chicago.
The big storyline ahead of the game was Calle Jarnkrok, who was a game-time decision after blocking a shot in Wednesday's practice. He ended up playing and had a great game.
Another question was how would the Maple Leafs look after being on Sweden time all last week. The answer was that they had some good and some bad, which was expected. However, they let the game slip away, falling to the Blackhawks.
Here are a few observations from Toronto's 4-3 overtime loss to Chicago.
The third line continues to roll
Toronto's bottom six was the main story from Friday's game against the Blackhawks. But let's begin with the third line, who found the back of the net twice.
Nick Robertson scored his third goal of the season off a beautiful feed from Max Domi. That's Domi's 10th assist of the year, and it just highlights how important he can be to the Maple Leafs' third line.
The third line got on the board again early in the second period. T.J. Brodie makes a great pass to find Jarnkrok in front, who makes no mistake, scoring his fifth goal of the season. Domi had an assist on that goal, too, giving him two on the afternoon.
Brodie rarely gets on the board offensively, but this was a great feed through two defenders that somehow finds its way onto Jarnkrok's stick.
I believe Toronto has found something with this third line. Robertson is scoring at the NHL level because he's a natural-born shooter but also because of Domi's playmaking.
Tie that together with Jarnkrok's scoring touch and his ability to be strong defensively, and Toronto has a great third line on their hands.
Conor Timmins' return
The 25-year-old returned to the lineup on Friday afternoon, playing 15:09 alongside William Lagesson.
I found that Timmins looked very calm in his return for the most part. He's played a lot in the NHL, but coming off an injury can throw off timing a bit.
There were a few instances where Timmins struggled. At one point in the second period, he gave the puck right to Connor Bedard, a player you definitely can't give the puck to. He was also on the ice for Chicago's second goal of the game.
Timmins has the player behind the net before Lagesson comes in and hits the puck with his stick which results in the puck going right to Jason Dickinson and then into the net.
The 25-year-old finished the game with a team-worst 17.35 xGF% at five-on-five.
Ryan Reaves
The 36-year-old scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf on Friday afternoon. Finally.
After what's likely been a difficult last few weeks for Reeves, it was nice to see him help out Toronto offensively instead of seeing the puck go into their net while he's on the ice.
"It was about 10,000 pounds off my shoulder," Reaves said to TSN's Mark Masters during the second intermission.
"I needed that one for the confidence. It's tough sledding the last couple of weeks being scratched, and even the weeks before that, I just wasn't playing very well. I had to get a little reset. I feel good now after a couple of weeks of good practicing."
Reaves had a 61.18 xGF% at five-on-five against the Blackhawks.
Other observations
- Ilya Samsonov didn't have the best game, giving up a few goals that he'd definitely like to have back.
But there's only so much that you can put on the goaltender before looking at the defense in front of him. All three of Chicago's goals were a result of Toronto's giveaways in their own zone. Their defense clearly needs to be better.
- Toronto's top six was held pointless and William Nylander's point streak has come to an end. It was positive that the Maple Leafs' bottom six was rolling, but having both groups click would have seen Toronto win.
Nylander was inches from keeping his point streak alive, but in the end, the Maple Leafs only got one of two points in Chicago.
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