Big effort from netminder Dennis Hildeby helps Toronto clean Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Monday night time
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The Maple Leafs are tightening up their defence — and making your complete Atlantic Division nearer consequently.
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Led by one other huge effort from netminder Dennis Hildeby, they annoyed the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Monday at Scotiabank Arena. Though 4 different groups are between them and the first-place Bolts and Boston Bruins, the hole is simply two factors. The Lightning have now misplaced 4 straight when it as soon as appeared like they might draw back from the pack.
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As Hildeby marked his first NHL shutout on 29 saves, the Leafs have introduced their goals-against down significantly, two or much less prior to now six contests. Hildeby received off to a different tremendous begin, persevering with to fill in for the 2 netminders on injured reserve — Joseph Woll, who was on a fairly good roll himself, and Anthony Stolarz. After Toronto missed just a few cracks at an empty internet and the Lightning hit the put up, Auston Matthews lastly clicked on the buzzer.
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Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point have been again within the Lightning lineup from their respective bruises and created all types of issues for the Leafs, however Hildeby held on by 15 first-period pictures.
After each Leafs power-play items generated little on an early likelihood – coach Craig Berube says he’s contemplating redistribution to 2 balanced teams – Morgan Rielly added a late first-period purpose. John Tavares dropped to Easton Cowan, whose first go to Rielly pinballed round because the defenceman was knocked to the ice, however he stayed with it to steer the puck previous Jonas Johansson.
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Close name for Jarnkrok in returned to lineup
The Swedish stopper, nonetheless, made an enormous glove save on countryman Calle Jarnkrok, who discovered himself alone within the slot. That would’ve helped Jarnkrok’s case to remain within the lineup after coach Craig Berube introduced him again after 4 video games in place of Nick Robertson.
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A Tavares bullet rang the bar behind Johansson proper after Jarnkrok’s miss, his arms half-raised considering he’d scored. In the third interval, Johansson received the skinny higher shaft of his stick on a sure Matthews purpose, whereas Tavares drew a hooking name the Leafs couldn’t convert.
Toronto is studying to get by its problematic second intervals, however did take its first penalty, a visit by Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Things received nastier earlier within the third, when Gage Goncalves ran Dakota Mermis and was given a significant and the boot, whereas Bobby McMann obtained a match penalty for a retaliatory excessive stick on Oliver Bjorkstrand. Dakota Joshua boxed the Bolts’ Max Crozier, all in the identical scrum.
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