Leafs Continue Winning Ways

What's going on this month? 7-3-1? I believe in culture change and the changing of the guard. That is what we have here; this is the youth movement in front of us. The Toronto Maple Leafs come out on top last night 3-2 over the Montreal Canadiens in yet another shootout.

Both clubs traded chances early in the game, but Tyler Bozak gave the Leafs a 1-0 lead on his seventh goal of the year on the power play from a rebound off a Dion Phaneuf rocket from the point.

Under a minute left in the opening frame, off a brilliant pass by Scot Gomez, Brian Gionta kicks the puck up to his stick and flutters a backhand just inside the circle beating Jonas Gustavsson on a goal he would liked to of had back and it was 1-1 after one.

Toronto got into some penalty trouble in the second, but the penalty kill (PK) did another great job last night by keeping the puck to the outside, getting bodies and sticks into the shooting lanes and killed off a double minor late in the second and early in the third not giving up a shot on goal.

Phil Kessel on the fly, snaps one over the blocking arm of Jaroslav Halak for his 28th of the year and gave the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. Kessel has found his scoring touch having scored six goals in his last six games.

In the third, on the power play (PP), the Habs tied it up off a Gionta tip from the point for his second of the game and 23rd goal of the season. Both teams had chances late in the third, but we would need extra time to solve the contest.

Both clubs had a few chances in overtime, but for the third game this year, a shootout was needed. Kessel led it off for the blue and white by firing a wrist shot off the crossbar. AK47 had a nifty little move on Gustavsson to put Montreal up 1-0. Nik Kulemin tied it with yet another beautiful wrist shot blocker side on his attempt. Gomez could not beat Gustavsson on his shootout attempt. The third shooter for the Buds, John Mitchell, does a carbon-copy move on Halak like he did Thursday night against New Jersey's Yan Danis and puts the Leafs 2-1. Gionta tries a backhand move on the Monster, but he wouldn't have anything to do with it and gives the Maple Leafs the victory.

Gustavsson looked a little shaky and scrambled around his crease early, but he settled down and had yet another solid game, winning his fifth in a row and six of his last seven.

Up next for the blue and white, the Florida Panthers roll into the ACC Tuesday night for their fourth and final meeting of the season.

Until next time Leafs Nation,

Go Leafs Go!

Chase Hadden