Maple Leafs-Bruins: Leafs Win Second Straight Shootout

The fortunes of the Toronto Maple Leafs may be turning for the better as John Ferguson breathed a huge sigh of relief when he witnessed his team win consecutive games for the first time in more than a month.

The Leafs are slowly gaining confidence as they found a way to fight back from a 2-1 deficit to win the game in a shootout 3-2 against the Boston Bruins.

Even more shocking is the fact that they won in a shootout—their second straight shootout win of the season.

The Leafs started out strong with an early goal from Alex Steen.

Steen sniped a shot into the top corner of the net behind Bruins’ goaltender Alex Auld.

The first period went downhill from that point as the Bruins responded with two quick goals from Zdeno Chara and Marco Sturm.

Chara blasted a shot from the point that beat Leaf’s goaltender Vesa Toskala in the five hole just as a Leaf’s penalty expired.

Sturm capitalized on a botched defensive play by Tomas Kaberle to put the Bruins ahead 2-1.

The second period was definitely better for the Leafs both offensively and defensively.

Matt Stajan scored late in the second to tie the game 2-2.

The third period was essentially a seesaw battle which saw some impressive goaltending from both Toskala and Auld.

Andrew Ference took a four minute high sticking penalty late in the third period, but the Leafs were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

The game eventually went into a shootout where the Leafs dominate the Bruins.

Kaberle, the Leafs first shooter, hit the post, but Mats Sundin and Steen made no mistake beating Auld cleanly.

Toskala stopped both Marc Savard and Phil Kessel on route to his first shootout win with the blue and white.

Despite the win, the Leafs powerplay continues its horrendous play and their penalty kill was well below average during tonight’s game.

The Leafs, who were the laughing stock of the league last week, now find themselves on a two-game winning streak.

This win, however, should not loosen the choke hold that management currently has on Leafs GM John Ferguson and head coach Paul Maurice.

Ferguson regime blueliners Pavel Kubina and Hal Gill also had shaky games; it was Kubina’s miscue that cost the Leafs half their powerplay in overtime.

Positives that were evident during tonight’s game include the continued improvement of rookie defensemen Anton Stralman. The Swedish defender could be earning his way onto the team over Andy Wozniewski once Carlo Colaiacovo returns.

Goalie Toskala also continues to impress as he made 31 saves tonight.

The Leafs will now head back home for Saturday night tilt against the injury riddled Buffalo Sabres—another opportunity to capitalize on another team’s misfortune and claim two points.