First Period

This period was all about goals and not a lot about good defending. Occasionally the goaltending was suspect, as well, but boy, was it fun.

First the Avs catch the Leafs... not really doing anything.

Then Mitch Marner does his thing.

And Brandon Carlo is having a rough introduction to his new team (no practice, remember).

But this was timely:

Team player:

JT ties it up:

Marner gets the go-ahead goal.

After one it was 3-2 Leafs

Avs with the puck more and mostly wailing from the left point. Not every Leafs goal was a gift from the Avs, but they did very much get lucky that period.

Second Period

This period was all about the PK and just holding onto the lead.

An insurance goal made it 4-2.

They cashed that in pretty quickly:

Carlo had settled right down, and I mostly enjoyed his play:

After two it was 4-3 Leafs.

Leafs with a good power play to get the goal, and, well, to be honest, not really anything else. The statute of limitations on taking any of the Leafs goals back is passed, though, so it counts!

Nick Robertson swapped out with Pontus Holmberg in this period to play with Tavares, and I have to respect Robertson a tonne for his commitment to making a roster spot for himself. I'm not sure he can keep this effort level up forever, but no one can discount his heart.

Third Period

The first half of the third was mostly about being dull, but fast. Trust me these two teams skated very hard and rarely shot the puck.

The Leafs started to come on a little stronger at the halfway mark, which is traditionally when the road team in Denver is supposed to start wilting from the altitude.

Jack Drury actually spent the Covid year playing on Holmberg's team in Sweden.

At almost the exact moment that Colorado tied it, the Leafs had drawn even in Corsi in this period, in case anyone was still thinking there is such a thing as deserve in hockey.

Marner took a tripping call with six minutes to go. Nathan MacKinnon scored on the power play to give the lead to Colorado.

Nichushkin got the hat trick on the ENG, his first of his NHL career.

MacKinnon got to 100 points on another ENG.

Final score was 7-4 Colorado.

The Leafs next game is another delightful 10 pm start on Monday.

Game Coverage