The Toronto Maple Leafs began their first extended road trip o the season this weekend, today hosting game one of two in Calgary against the Flames before they move on to a few days in Edmonton before coming home in a week to host the Canucks next Saturday.

Coming into today’s game I was hoping for another win. That's it really, I try not to set my expectations too high. Secondly was seeing Auston Matthews score his first goal against the Flames, and finally if neither of those things happen, just to have an entertaining game.

So, lets find out. Here are my rambling thoughts tat recap the game as it happens.

Jack Campbell gets the start, the first one since game three against the Ottawa Senators.

The Leafs and Flames played a very safe game the first five minutes, with each team getting a couple shots on net, but not getting anyone rising out of their seats for exciting plays. Ilya Mikheyev gets a chance and William Nylander tries to score, but the highlights for the first ten minutes of the game aren’t much to write home about.

Jake Muzzin opens the scoring:

Mitch Marner had the assist on that goal, and that assist was his 300th career point.

Marner got to 300 points in 307 games, just behind Charlie Conacher (294) and Syl Apps (284)

After ten minutes, the game is 1-0 Leafs, which is great!

The Leafs start waking up a bit more, taking more time in the Flames end of the ice. The seem to have someone available for the puck almost all the time and the Flames only get into the Leafs end when they dump the puck out. Until I type that and Johnny Gaudreau leads a play that results in a shot just missing Jack Campbell across the crease.

The Leafs move the puck out, but the Flames come right back in, testing Jack Campbell multiple times before he covers the puck to end the play.

The Flames put pressure on Campbell, but when they can’t score they take out their frustrations on TJ Brodie  - frustrations about not being able to score, and frustrations that they couldn’t leave Calgary to become a Leaf.

The first period ends with the shots 10-7 and goals 1-0 in the Maple Leafs favour.

Goal 1: The Leafs win the game

This is working out great!

Goal 2: Matthews scores a goal

Not yet. Working on it.

Goal 3: Be entertaining!

It wasn’t a barn burner, but the Leafs being ahead on the scoreboard always mitigates some slow play.

The second period starts with the Flames coming in strong on Campbell, and Morgan Rielly takes a slashing penalty to stop the shot. Flames get the first power play of the game. The Leafs do a good job killing the penalty, keeping the flames to a shot or two.

Just before we go back to even strength, Mikael Backlund takes a penalty against Jason Spezza, giving us 20 seconds of 4 on 4 and then a Leafs power play. The Flames PK out works the Leafs, as they keep the Leafs from getting a shot on goal, and we go back to even strength with the Leafs still winning 1-0.

The Maple Leafs are pushing for a second goal, but are having trouble beating Jakob Markstrom today.

Wayne Simmonds is called for boarding just at the 10 minute mark of the period, hitting Andrew Mangiapane in the corner by the Flames net. The Flames get their second power play of the game.

The Maple Leafs PK takes away good shooting lanes, forcing Matthew Tkachuk to shoot right at Campbells chest, which he does, and Campbell stops it. The penalty is killed, the Leafs still lead 1-0.

The Flames get into the Leafs end and start circling the Leafs net, and cycling the puck between them. Jack Campbell tries to track the puck going around him, but can’t and Sean Monahan scores by getting the puck between Campbell and the post.

The game is now tied, 1-1.

Milan Lucic gives the Leafs a chance to get the lead back, after he gets called for interference. The Leafs power play keeps the puck in the Flames end, and Mitch Marner tries to shoot through traffic, but it hits Markstrom in the chest for an easy save. After that shot the Flames get the puck out and keep the Leafs from setting easily again.

The Leafs can’t score on the power play once again, but stay pared in the Flames end of the ice until Johnny Gaudreau skates it out and dumps the puck for a line change. The Leafs and Flames continue to fight for the puck and the chance to get something on net. As the clock ticks down Alexander Barbanov gets an amazing chance on Markstrom, but Nikita Nesterov gets called for hooking on the play.

The Leafs get their third powerplay of the game and don’t waste any time. Wayne Simmonds comes off the faceoff with the puck and scores right away.

That’s his 100th power play goal and 500th career point.

The second period ends with the Maple Leafs leading 2-1.

Goal 1: The Leafs win the game

Still up by one!

Goal 2: Matthews scores a goal

Goddammit will you get on that?

Goal 3: Be entertaining!

It’s fine. They’re winning.

Period 3? End to end play. Not action, but the puck gets to either end of the rink in a not very exciting way. You know what is exciting? The Leafs score! Kind of! A Morgan Rielly shot hits Matthews than Rasmus Andersson and banks into the net. It’s not pretty, but it counts.

The Maple Leafs lead 3-1 with 15 minutes to play.

Zach Hyman, feeling left out so far tonight, gets on the scoresheet with a holding penalty. This leads to Elias Lindholm scoring seconds into the powerplay to cut the Leafs lead to one. 3-2 Toronto.

The Flames are coming in hard, trying to tie the game up.

The Leafs get into the Flames end and Auston Matthews gets a couple good chances right in front of Markstrom, but can’t pot his second against the Flames.

The Flames get the puck down the ice, but Alex Kerfoot and Ilya Mikheyev rush down to the Flames net, but Kerfoot can’t get a pass over to Soup as Lindholm kicks his foot out to block the puck, and the play goes back the other way.

The Leafs penalty parade continues as Zach Hyman gets another penalty as he gets called for tripping. It was an unintentional tripping, but it gets called nonetheless.

The Flames PP makes Jack Campbell dance, but Mitch Marner forces the puck out and gets a great chance on Markstrom, but doesn’t get the shorthanded goal. Sean Monahan gets a slashing penalty of his own and we get some 4 on 4 hockey. No goals at 4 on 4 or the remaining bit of Monahan’s penalty.  Halfway through the third it’s still 3-2 Leafs.

Jack Campbell is putting on a show keeping the Flames from scoring, getting quite a workout. The Flames pull Markstrom with two minutes remaining, trying to tie the game. The broadcast brings up worries about Campbell’s leg, and as they talk about that there’s a pile up on the goal crease. 37 seconds left, and there’s a trainer on the ice. Campbell goes to the bench as Keefe calls a time out, and the decision is to leave Jack in net for the final half minute.

The Flames in the faceoff and they make Campbell scramble around the crease before the Leafs ice the puck. Another face off, another icing with one second left. The Leaf win the face off and the horn sounds, ending the game.

The Maple Leafs win, 3-2 and move on to a 5-2 record.

Goal 1: The Leafs win the game

They did it!

Goal 2: Matthews scores a goal

He did it! (Kind of)

Goal 3: Be entertaining!

Eh. It was fine.

The Maple Leafs fifth win of the season is their first over the Calgary Flames. I’m not too happy about leaving in an obviously injured goalie with a one goal lead, but the other option was a stone cold Anderson, which was also a risk.

The Maple Leafs next game is Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames, starting at 9PM Eastern because we have to be nice to Flames fans or something? Nonsense.

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