Maple Leafs-Ducks: Toronto's Late-Game Antics Not Enough against Anaheim

The Toronto Maple Leafs came up just short Tuesday night, falling to the Anaheim Ducks in a shootout, 3-2. 

The Leafs trailed early, down by a 2-0 score at the end of the first period. They then came back to eventually tie it up at 2-2 when Vesa Toskala was pulled with just over a minute remaining in the game. With the extra attacker on the ice, Nik Antropov netted his second of the night to complete the comeback.

After nothing was settled in overtime, the game went to a shootout, and, in a surprise move, a cold Curtis Joseph was inserted into the net. Cujo, looking off, allowed his first shooters to score. Jean-Sebastien Giguere, on the other hand, was not even tested, as both Tomas Kaberle and Nikolai Kulemin missed the net on their attempts.

With three shootout losses in the last four games, and after the stunt Wilson pulled tonight, it looks like the Leafs should consider pulling the goalie in the last minute of overtime going forward.

John Mitchell started the game centering Toronto's top line, in between Antropov and Jason Blake. Halfway through the second period, Wilson mixed up the lines, moving Matt Stajan up to centre alongside Alexei Ponikarovsky and Antropov.

Antropov, after scoring two goals tonight, leads the team with five points (3G, 2A).

Luke Schenn, in his sixth regular season game with the Leafs, has only three games remaining before the coaching staff and management render a decision on whether or not he will be staying with the club for the duration of the season.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?