NHL Game Summary - Winnipeg at Toronto
(Wednesday, October 19th)
Final Score: Toronto 4, Winnipeg 3 (SO)
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Joffrey Lupul scored twice in regulation and
posted the shootout winner, as Toronto rallied from a two-goal deficit to down
Winnipeg, 4-3, at Air Canada Centre.
Phil Kessel added a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs, who have kicked
off a season at 4-0-1 for a second straight year.
"Time will have to tell if he finds a way to be more consistent," said Leafs
head coach Ron Wilson of Kessel's early-season breakout. "He's backchecking,
forechecking, making good decisions with the puck and staying on top of
things. He wants the puck all the time, he's demanding it and he's getting it.
That's the most important thing."
James Reimer stopped 26-of-29 shots through 65 minutes then both chances in
the shootout to earn the win.
Tobias Enstrom and Alex Burmistrov lit the lamp for the Jets, who have lost
four of five to begin their initial Canadian campaign.
Mark Schiefele netted his first career NHL goal, but Ondrej Pavelec allowed
tallies to Lupul and Matt Frattin in the shootout to take the loss.
Winnipeg hit the scoreboard just prior to the midway point of the first
period, when Enstrom's low point shot drifted through traffic and in for a
power-play score.
Toronto knotted the score with 8:21 left in the period, as Lupul was alone at
the left post to slam home a Kessel dish which hit the television camera at
the back before caroming out. Play resumed for several seconds before the
trailing official was able to confirm the tally.
Burmistrov put the Jets up 2-1 at 2:27 of the second, tapping in a pass from
Nik Antropov on the doorstep, and Schiefele notched his milestone score on a
power play at 7:53.
The 18-year-old southern Ontario native was the beneficiary of a good rebound
of a Dustin Byfuglien shot, and he deposited the rebound into an open cage
from the left side.
"You know it was definitely special to get it here in front of a bunch of
people that came to the game," Scheifele admitted about his first career
marker. "Still, it would have been nicer to get the win."
Lupul managed to slip a shot between Pavelec's pads on a Leafs power play at
7:28 of the third period, thanks to an accidental deflection off Enstrom's
stick and the home team got within 3-2.
Just 27 seconds later, Toronto tied the score on another advantage. Dion
Phaneuf faked a shot from the left point, but passed to Kessel alone in
the left circle for a blistering, successful one-timer.
Pavelec was out of position with under two minutes left, but was saved from
disaster when David Steckel hit the outside of the Winnipeg goaler's pad from
just in front of the goal line.
Reimer stopped three shots and Pavelec one in overtime.
Game Notes
Kessel snapped a tie with Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings and leads the
NHL in scoring with 12 points (7G, 5A)...The Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise has
dropped four of its last six games in Toronto, while the "Winnipeg Jets" have
not won in Ontario's largest city since the club which became the Coyotes
posted a 4-2 decision on January 17, 1996...Maple Leafs forward Colby
Armstrong left in the first period with an apparent left leg injury and did
not return...Prior to the game, Toronto announced that forward Nazem Kadri was
assigned to the AHL...Pavelec stopped 20 shots in regulation and OT.
10/20 00:13:16 ET
|