Leafs finally rewarded with Big Effort.

 

     It started out looking like another disaster at the ACC, but ended looking with a barnburner.  Tuesday night the Toronto Maple Leafs ended an eight game losing streak that spanned 3 weeks and was beginning to look like it would never end.  It did end though with a gutsy win again the Nashville Predators.  

     Who would have thought Leaf fans were to be treated to such a thrilling game after coughing up 3 goals in less than 20 minutes.  Even a late third period goal by Luke Schenn couldn't offer any solace to fans as they watched their team squander another power-play and even give up a short-handed goal to start the second period.  Who knew Brett Lebda's terrible giveaway would spark their most inspired effort of the season.    

     Six minutes into the second period the Leafs were down 4-1 with a 2 man advantage. That's when Kris Versteeg decided enough was enough.  He scored his first of the night and followed it with another one minute later.   By the end of the third they'd scored 4 power-play goals and taken the lead by a 5-4 margin.  They even had a goal called back when Colton Orr got in the way of Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne on a Keith Aullie wrist shot.  
     The win wasn't textbook to be sure.  It's not every night a team is handed six power-plays in a row, and two, two man advantages in one period.   We can't expect them to come back from three goals every night either.  Nashville was a slumping team as well.  The Leafs have a long way to go.  All we can hope for is more of the spirit we witnessed last night and some good bounces.  A win is a win though, and that one was  a beauty.  Honorable mention should also go to Clarke MacArthur, the set-up man on 3 power play goals.   As well the Monster stepped in late in the third to make some game saving saves with Giguere leaving with minutes to go.  Let's hope the Leafs can provide some more efforts like this and get back in the hunt for a play-off spot.