Feb. 15: Leafs 4 at Oilers 3 (OT)

(Connolly ends scoring drought in overtime)
Leafs scorers: Lupul (23), Lombardi (7), Gardiner (3), Connolly (8)
Oilers scorers: Eager (7), Hall (20), Eberle (25)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Kulemin-Lombardi-Armstrong, Connolly-Grabovski-MacArthur, Boyce-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Aulie, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Komisarek
Goaltenders: Reimer (Win 61:23 minutes played, 29 saves, 3 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap
Tim Connolly converted a pass from Joffrey Lupul 1:39 into overtime as the Leafs defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Wednesday at Rexall Place. The winning goal was scored seconds after Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf broke up a 3-on-1 Oilers rush to lead to an odd-man rush in the other direction for the Leafs.

For Toronto, the victory ended a four-game losing streak.

With neither young team known for their defensive attention to detail, the Leafs and Oilers played a brand of end-to-end firewagon hockey for over sixty minutes. Lupul and Matthew Lombardi combined to score the first two goals of the game just 98 seconds after the opening faceoff. Edmonton’s Ben Eager brought the home team to within 2-1 by the 2:32 mark.

Eager also won a decisive fight against the Leafs’ Mike Brown.

Jake Gardiner had the other Leafs goal. Toronto’s Luke Schenn and Joey Crabb were heatlhy scratches.

Feb. 14: Leafs 1 at Flames 5

(Bozak scores the only Toronto goal)
Leafs scorers: Bozak (13)
Flames scorers: Tanguay (7), Jokinen (18), Byron (3), Comeau (4), Iginla (22)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Kulemin-Lombardi-Crabb, Connolly-Grabovski-MacArthur, Boyce-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Komisarek, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss 59:53 minutes played, 29 saves, 5 GA), Reimer (0:00)

Recap
The Maple Leafs had no answer for Flames’ goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff, falling flat in a 5-1 loss to Calgary at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday night.

While Toronto was able to generate several scoring chances, defensive lapses cost the team dearly, particularly against the Flames’ top line of Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen.

Tyler Bozak scored the Leafs’ only goal while Jonas Gustavsson took the loss in net. The defeat extends Toronto’s losing streak to four games, which is a season high.

Feb. 11: Leafs 0 vs. Canadiens 5

(Sundin’s banner is raised to the ACC rafters)
Leafs scorers: (none)
Canadiens scorers: Cole (20), Bourque (16), Pacioretty (23), Eller (12), Darche (4)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Lombardi-Connolly-Crabb, Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur, Boyce-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss, 40:00 minutes played, 11 saves, 4 GA) Gustavsson (20:00 minutes played, 2 saves, 1 GA )

Recap, by S-Mo:
On the day the Leafs raised Captain Clutch’ banner to the rafters it was the Canadiens that stole the show and rolled out a Price-y red carpet of their own.

Viking warrior:

The ovation was thunderous for Mats Sundin who wore the C for 840 games as a Leaf. A tsunami of blue and white pride for the man who always put the team first in the truest sense of the meaning, often carrying it on his back, hockey’s version of the image of the mighty Atlas. The 10 minute chorus easily eliminated the reductive, material perspective that suggested Sundin owed more than he had given, in one grand uplifting moment at the ACC.
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Feb. 9: Leafs 3 at Flyers 4

(Luke Schenn watches his brother Brayden score game-winner)
Leafs scorers: Bozak 2 (12), Lupul (22)
Flyers scorers: Hartnell (26), Talbot (13), Giroux (21), Schenn (6)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Lombardi-Connolly-Crabb, Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur, Armstrong-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss 58:13 minutes played, 35 saves, 4 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap
Two nights ago, the Leafs put forth a solid three-period against Winnipeg, but couldn’t hit the net.

Thursday night in Philadelphia, the team beat Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky three times. But they didn’t give a sixty-minute effort.

The end result was a 4-3 loss at Wells Fargo Center, Toronto’s second consecutive regulation time defeat. With wins by playoff suitors Ottawa, Florida, and down-but-not-out Winnipeg, the collar around coach Ron Wilson’s neck gets that much tighter.

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Feb. 7: Leafs 1 at Jets 2

(Gustavsson makes 27 saves in losing cause)
Leafs scorers: Kessel (30)
Jets scorers: Thorburn (2), Little (13)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Lombardi-Connolly-Crabb, Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur, Armstrong-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss 59:26 minutes played, 27 saves, 2 GA), Reimer (0:00)

Feb. 6: Leafs 6 vs. Oilers 3

(Grabovski has two assists and is first star)
Leafs scorers: MacArthur (17), Gardiner (2), Kessel 2 (29), Bozak (10), Lupul (21)
Oilers scorers: Eberle 2 (24), Petry (2)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Lombardi-Connolly-Crabb, Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur, Armstrong-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Win 60:00 minutes played, 27 saves, 3 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap
The Leafs-Oilers matchup on Monday night at Air Canada Centre was what you’d expect from two young teams built on speed.

Toronto eventually prevailed 6-3 featured in a game in which finesse goals were interspersed with horrendous defensive zoned coverage. Ultimately the two points were awarded to the team that made the fewest mistakes, which was the Leafs – who are now 5-0-1 in their last six outings, including a current three-game winning streak.

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