Here's a quick summary of last night's game.

First period: This is good.
Second period: Uh oh.
Third period: This is good.

Two even strength goals is a great way to start the first period.

Jake McCabe got the first one from way out at the blueline that was deflected in by a Predators player.

Then OEL went for another to put the Leafs up 2-0.

The Leafs came out of the gate for the second period pretty slowly and the Predators took over the game resulting in them getting one back. Berube was not happy with what was going on.

Nashville scored again and the second period ended 2-2. If you're a Leafs fan you are now already in the acceptance stage of the grief cycle, but the Admiral of the team wasn't done fighting yet with his battle fleet.

That was followed by Bobby McMann to close out the second period with the Leafs up 4-2.

Then in the third, Auston Matthews got a goal and at the same time our precious young cowboy Easton Cowan picked up his first NHL point.

The Predators weren't done yet, scoring twice more in the late third period, but they did so by exposing themselves with the empty net, which Auston Matthews took advantage of to score his second of the game, bringing him up to PPG status for the season again, a then Willy Nylander put the dagger in the beast.

That goal in turn helped bring back our old friend the red blob of doom in front of the opposing net, still not quite like it was in the good ole days, but getting better.

Berube says the team failed to do "all the little things" in the second period and that's what lead to the Predators making a comeback, but then they fixed it up it for the third.

The Leafs don't have much time to celebrate. The next game is tomorrow against the Rangers here in Toronto, and we're all left with the question, which of these four Leafs games featured the real Leafs?

While you think about that, you can stay up late to watch the Jays tonight, with an 8:00 start in Seattle.

Down 2-0 in ALCS, Blue Jays know only way out is to ‘start throwing punches’
They may be down 2-0 to the Mariners in a best-of-seven series that resumes with Game 3 Wednesday night, but the hard realities of such a deficit did little to shake the bond they’ve built over 8 1/2 months together.
Sportsnet.caShi Davidi

Finally, here's the big hit from last night that everyone will be talking about today.

Enjoy your Wednesday. It's only ten weeks until Christmas.

From The Branches