The Maple Leafs welcomed the Arizona Coyotes to Toronto and newest Leaf Jack Campbell got his third straight start.

The game didn’t being very well for Campbell however, as the Coyotes scored one minute into the first period:

The Leafs defenders were no match for Conor Garland’s breakout, clearly.

The Leafs come back from this with pressure in the offensive zone, but nothing got by [checks notes] Adin Hill? God damn.

The play goes on until the Maple Leafs give up a FIVE ON TWO TO THE ARIZONA COYOTES. Mitch Marner ends up blocking the shot, and somewhere in the play Jakob Chychrun gets called for tripping give the Leafs a power play.

The Leafs power play hasn’t been up to snuff lately and doesn’t seem to be much of a match for the Coyotes penalty kill, as the ‘Yotes are able to ice the puck every time the Leafs enter the zone. The power play ends with no shots from the Leafs.

The Maple Leafs have trouble controlling the puck and keep missing out on rebounds, but Alex Kerfoot is able to fee Tyson Barrie at the point and a patented Tyson Barrie slapshot goes in past Hill to tie the game at one.


Stop Big Mistaking the Leafs Defencemen


The goal is given to Zach Hyman, as he tipped it past Hill.

The play continues back and forth, but Jack Campbell gets a bigger workout than Hill does down in the Coyotes net.

Jason Spezza comes close to breaking the tie at the side of the net but Hill has it locked down. The bottom six is having a better period than the top line so far, with Spezza, Pierre Engvall, and Hyman all going hard on offense.

The first period ends with a tie game, one goal each.

The second begins with each team getting some time on the attack, and Zach Hyman is the early highlight player of the period for the Maple Leafs, with lots of offensive attack in his play.

The Maple Leafs came on strong against the Coyotes - who also had their moments of offense - until Jake Muzzin is called for slashing, giving the Coyotes their first power play of the game.

The Coyotes are having a much better time on the power play, as they get more offensize zone time and even a shot on net! It doesn’t matter though as the Leafs PK keeps the game tied at one.

Back at even strength the Maple Leafs get a few good rushes into the Coyotes end, with the Leafs putting more pressure on offensively with each entry. The Leafs push for more puck control and more chances, and jsut push the Coyotes around.

Jack Campbell isn’t forgotten about, the Coyotes get some chances of their own but Campbell pulls out some big saves to impress the home crowd and keep the Coyotes at one goal.

The Maple Leafs get their second power play of the game when Nick Schmaltz is called for slashing. This PP gets a bit more done, with almost an entire minute spent in the offsensive zone to start, with same good chances and rebounds, but no goal. The Coyotes get two chances rushes of their own, but Campbell continues to make himself the hero of the game with some fancy gloves saves. The PP had it’s moment, but is getting out shot, which isn’t something you want when you have a man advantage. This PP ends goal-less as well.

As brigstew said in our chat, “You never want your goalie to be the best play on the PP”.

There’s a little scare as Justin Holl chases down an icing and ends up losing his balance and crashes into the goalpost and Campbell. Holl is fine, just a little bloody nose, and both get right back up and into play. We’re then treated to a not at all panic inducing incident with John Tavares.

The Mitch Marner leaves the period early....

As the final minute of the period ticks down, there’s a big scramble in front of the Leafs net, with no one quite knowing where to be, Campbell slides too far to one side and Carl Soderberg scores his 100th career goal to make it 2-1 Coyotes.

The period ends 2-1 Coyotes.

Good news everyone!

Even better news!

Zach Hyman one times the puck into the net after Jake Muzzin gets deep into the zone to set up the play. Tie game 90 seconds into the third period.

The Leafs don’t give up the attack, putting shots on net and shots on Coyotes. Alex Goligoski takes one off the back of the leg, blocking the shot accidentally after he’s cross checked onto the ice.

The Maple Leafs continue to put pressure on the Coyotes throughout the period, some great chances gets the Scotiabank Arena crowd on their feet with very loud cheers, shouts, and “Go Leafs Go” chants.

Kyle Clifford is called for high sticking, but the most notable thing about this Coyotes power play is Alex Kerfoot’s shorthanded breakaway that almost gives the Leafs the lead.

After the Leafs penalty expires, Phil Kessel gets his stick stuck in Tyson Barrie’s skate blade and is called for tripping. The SBA crowd enjoy seeing Kessel go to the box, and is very vocal about it.

William Nylander is taken off the power play, as he’s recovering from the flu and doesn’t seem to have the energy needed tonight.

The Leafs don’t score in the first minute of the power play, and the team calls a time out with 53 seconds remaining to regroup. The Coyotes rested as well, don’t forget, and they get a short handed chance shortly after the face off.

There’s no goal on this power play, and we head into the final five minutes of the game tied at two goals each. There’s a short but tense time in front of Jack Campbell, a scramble reminiscent of the second Coyotes goal, but the puck gets cleared.

The Leafs pound away on Hill, trying to get the game winner past him before overtime begins. There’s no luck and we look to be headed to the extra frame once again.

With 30 seconds let, Zach Hyman gets called for tripping, giving the Coyotes a 5 on 4 for 30 seconds, then we move down to 4 on 3 for the remainder....hopefully.

Marner tries to score shorthanded, but doesn’t and we head to overtime.

In overtime the Leafs PK is doing a good job of keeping the Coyotes at bay, they aren't doing anything offensively of their own, but it’s not necessary and the Leafs are playing it safe. However, just as the penalty is about to expire Jakob Chychrun scores the game winner. One again, a bullshit penalty call goes against the Leafs and costs them the game.

The Maple Leafs lose this one 3-2 in overtime, getting one point at least. One point won’t be enough in the long term and the Leafs have a lot to figure out, and fast, if they want to stay in the playoff hunt until the final game of the season.

The Maple Leafs next game is-

No wait, I turned the game off too fast, as the Coyotes goal was called back and the game continues!

Both teams are playing like their lives depend on it - the Leafs taking revenge for a bad penalty, the Coyotes looking to get that game winner back - and we see great chances from both but it all ends with Kasperi Kapanen scoring the game winner. The actual game winner.

The Maple Leafs have some lessons to learn from this game - mostly how to not spread the flu around the dressing room - but they get two badly needed points out of it.

The next Leafs game is Thursday night against the Dallas Stars. Will Jack Campbell get the start again or will Frederik Andersen return? I bet it won’t be announced until the pre-game skate.