2. Leafs sag in second half of first period, Coyotes score twice before end of frame. Toronto's strong start evaporated shortly after Marner's goal when defensive coverage suffered and the Coyotes took advantage, scoring two goals in a 77-second span. Winger Josh Archibald got Arizona on the scoresheet with his first goal of the year at 14:15 of the first, and winger Brendan Perlini netted his ninth of the season at 15:32 to cut the Leafs' lead to a single goal by the end of the period.
Leafs coach Mike Babcock has noted his team at times takes its foot off the gas pedal when they've established a sizeable lead, and this was certainly the case as the period came to a close. Only a terrific save by netminder Frederik Andersen on winger Anthony Duclair late in the frame prevented Arizona from tying it before the intermission, and the Coyotes wound up outshooting Toronto 14-11 in the frame.
3. Buds kill off lengthy 5-on-3 penalty kill to start second before offence racks up another quick trio of goals.The Coyotes looked primed to even the score at the beginning of the second period after Toronto was called for two penalties in the first 1:53 of the frame. However, despite having a 5-on-3 power play for 1:44, the Buds' penalty killers (blueliners Morgan Rielly and Ron Hainsey, and winger Leo Komarov) were terrific - limiting Arizona to a single shot and no quality scoring chances - and that turned the momentum in the Leafs' favour.
To wit: when Toronto received its first power play of the night at 8:24 of the second, forward Patrick Marleau redirected Marner's shot into Arizona's net to register his 13th goal of the year and boost the Leafs' lead to 4-2 at the 9:15 mark. Approximately six minutes later, Nylander took the puck away from blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson at the Coyotes' blueline and moved in alone before stylishly stickhandling the puck past Wedgewood for his eighth of the year at 15:13. And ten seconds after that, Marner set up Marleau for his second goal of the evening (and Marner's third point) to make it 6-2 for the Buds.
Arizona got one back before the period ended when winger Jordan Martinook scored his third of the year with 1:27 left before the second intermission, but Toronto clearly made the most of the chances the Coyotes gave them and entered the third with a three-goal advantage.
4. Leafs' penalty kill tested often, finally gives up goal late in third.The Leafs had little trouble generating offence on this night, but they gave Arizona far too many man advantages - six in total. And although their penalty kill unit did well in keeping the Coyotes from scoring on the first four power plays they gave up, the home team finally broke through late in the third when winger Christian Fischer scored his 10th of the year to make it 6-4 with 5:53 left in regulation time.
Many of the Leafs were particularly displeased with the penalties that were called and ones that weren't - Toronto had just one power play all night - and though the offence will get a lot of credit for racking up seven goals, the Leafs' defensive special team did a solid job of thwarting Arizona's ability to fully come back and start the third period with a clean slate - or a lead.
5. Brown's empty-net marker seals second straight win for Leafs, who'll be put to the test again quickly.Arizona coach Rick Tocchet pulled Wedgewood for the extra skater in a late attempt to rally his club, but winger Connor Brown scored into the empty Coyotes net with 2:30 left to seal the victory for Toronto, which now has won two games in a row and improved its record to 23-14-1.
That record also includes a 12-9-1 road mark, which is the most road wins by any NHL team thus far this season. And their road record will be tested right away, as the Leafs will take on the Colorado Avalanche in Denver Friday night before ending the calendar year in Las Vegas on Sunday. Head coach Mike Babcock will likely be pleased by his team's offensive production Thursday, but this was a game that demonstrated the Buds still have some work to do on the defensive end. And the improved Avs (10-7-1 at home this season) and surprisingly dominant Golden Knights (15-2-1 in Vegas) will provide solid challenges.
