Penguins Score a Victory Over Maple Leafs in Hall of Fame Game
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By Doug Hirdle
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On a night that saw Toronto Maple Leaf’s fans giving Borje Samling a standing ovation during this year’s Hall of Fame inductee celebrations, the Leafs failed to deliver the win fans were hoping for after Brock McGinn’s winning goal in the third period.
With Samling and fellow ex-Leaf players Mats Sundin and Daryl Sittler in attendance, the annual NHL Hall of Fame game, honoured the late Herb Carnegie, Roberto Luongo, Daniel Alfredsson and Daniel Sedin were honoured, and on Monday will honour Henrik Sedi, who was absent due to COVID.
Zach Aston-Reese opened the scoring for the Toronto Maple Leafs with 6:11 remaining in the first. However, the 1-0 advantage was short lived and one the Leafs seemed unable to overcome. With 35.6 seconds left in the first, Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin tied the game with a well-timed wrist shot in front of the net.
Pittsburgh’s late period push was a turning point to the Penguins after Jason Zucker made it 2-1 for Pittsburgh less than 90 seconds into the second. Jake Guentzel and Brock McGinn also scored, and assists went to Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Danton Heinen, Marcus Petersson, and Chad Ruhwedel, while Casey DeDmith had thirty saves.
The night was a pivotal one for Evgeni Malkin, after racking up two penalties in the first period, ended up going to earn his 67th career point against the Maple Leafs.
“He was in beast mode,” said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. “He was a threat all night long. When he plays the game like we’ve all grown accustomed to watching him over the years, the puck just follows him around.”
Nylander scored Toronto’s second goal, Erik Källgren stopped 19 shots, and David Kampf, Denis Malgin, Mitch Marner, and Morgan Rielly earned assists.
“A clinic by the Pittsburgh Penguins in terms of how they defended,” said Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said of the third. “We were on the wall a lot, but couldn’t find our way through that. That’s really the difference in the game.”
With Pittsburgh and Leafs tied 2-2 in the third, Brock McGinn scored his third this season after firing off a shot that went through Mark Giordano’s legs and past Kallgren’s pads.
“See it late and it goes in,” said Kallgren. “Gotta save that one. Not good enough by me,” he said. “Just not good enough. Feel bad for the team.”
With two minutes remaining in the third, Keefe pulled Kallgren in an attempt to tie the game, but the opportunity was lost after Guentzel scored on the empty net.
Kallgreen was called into service to cover for Matt Murray, who is recovering from a groin injury, and Ilya Samsonov, who is out with an injured knee. The Leafs are non-committal as to when Murray will return other than to say the date is getting closer.
That means the Leafs will have to rely on Kallgren again when the Leafs welcome the Vancouver Canucks, or call up rookie Keith Petruzelli. Unlikely, considering the rookie has yet to play, it is likely that Kallgren will get the nod.
“He’s been playing really well,” said Nylander of Kallgren. “He should keep his head up. We’ve got to be better in front of him.”
For ex-Penguin Aston-Reese, who played for Pittsburgh for five seasons, his rebound goal past Casey DeSmith, was great news for the Leafs, but for Aston-Reese, it was strange.
“It’s just awkward,” said Aston-Reese of facing his former teammates. “Kind of like going to dinner with your ex-girlfriend.”
After taking an early lead and giving multiple scoring opportunities that could have changed the tone of the game, they instead watched the night unravel. Typical of Toronto, the missed opportunities by Auston Matthews in the defensive zone and Alexander Kerfoot and Mitch Marner unable to score on a 2 man breakaway said it all.
However, fans should let the loss get the better of them as Toronto heads to Vancouver for a one-night stay. Sitting in 4th in the Atlantic Division ahead of the 6th place Pacific Division Canucks, bookies like Bodog have the two sharing even odds, while Betway is favouring the Maple Leafs.
After the two back-to-backs for Toronto, the Leafs will have a two day break before heading to Pittsburgh for revenge. They then will welcome the New Jersey Devils on the 17th and the Sabers on the 19th.
