Takeaways - Leafs at Kings - 11/13/18

KADRI NETS FIRST OF BOOKENDED GOALS, KICKS OFF LEAFS' POWER PLAY DOMINANCE
The Leafs had a three-game win streak snapped Saturday in Boston, but from the moment Toronto's players took the ice at Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday, they played like a team laser-focused on getting back to the win column. The Kings are a struggling squad with a new head coach in Willie Desjardins, and although they've got a slew of players who've achieved big things in hockey's top league, L.A. were not in top form as the Buds mauled them.
Toronto pressured the Kings into taking a penalty just 1:15 into the first period, and the Leafs capitalized on the power play - something that would repeat itself often in this game - when centre Nazem Kadri tapped in a perfect pass from winger Mitch Marner at the 2:42 mark:
Video: TOR@LAK: Kadri finishes tic-tac-toe for PPG
The power play marker was the sixth goal of the season (and the sixth in his past nine games) for Kadri, and it was the first of two goals he'd score against L.A. Tuesday. Kadri is flourishing right now, finding the net with pinpoint precision and benefitting from the creative brilliance of Marner.

KADRI'S QUICK-REACTION, HIGH-SKILL SCORE DOUBLES LEAFS' ADVANTAGE
The Leafs outshot the Kings 16-8 in the opening period, and their power play clicked for success twice in the first frame. Following Kadri's early goal, the Buds went ahead 2-0 when blueliner Morgan Rielly fired the puck at the net from L.A.'s blue line, and centre John Tavares deftly deflected it in:
Video: TOR@LAK: Tavares tips in Rielly's shot for PPG
Tavares led the Leafs in scoring Wednesday with a goal and two assists, and he continued to put forth the elite two-way effort Toronto needs.
KINGS HALVE LEAFS' LEAD LATE IN FIRST, BUT RIELLY RESTORES TWO-GOAL ADVANTAGE IN SECOND
Los Angeles cut Toronto's lead to 2-1 toward the end of the first period, but the Leafs' two-goal advantage was restored at 1:15 of the second when Rielly took a pass from Tavares and ripped a shot past goalie Peter Budaj from the circle:
Video: TOR@LAK: Rielly snipes shot past Budaj
KINGS FADE FAST IN SECOND AS LEAFS INCREASE THEIR LEAD ON JOHNSSON GOAL
The Leafs continued pushing after Rielly's goal, and they went ahead 4-1 at 4:33 of the second when D-man Travis Dermott moved the puck deep into L.A.'s zone before finding winger Andreas Johnsson in front of the net. and Johnsson swatted it in for his second goal of the season and the second in his past three games:
Video: TOR@LAK: Johnsson slams home puck from the doorstep
Johnsson showed he could be a highly effective player at the American League level, and the youngster is showing signs of acclimation to the NHL that no doubt will please head coach Mike Babcock and GM Kyle Dubas.
KADRI'S SECOND POWER PLAY GOAL OF THE GAME FINISHES OFF ALL SCORING MIDWAY THROUGH SECOND, SOLIDIFIES ANOTHER LEAFS ROAD WIN
Toronto outshot the Kings 29-16 in the first two periods and 35-23 overall, and the Leafs finished off their scoring (and all the scoring for that matter) at 7:19 of the second when Kadri tapped in his second power play goal of the night:

    Video: TOR@LAK: Kadri scores second PPG of the game<br>Kadri's goal was more than enough to completely deflate the Kings. Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen was solid once again in net, and Toronto got scoring from throughout their lineup en route to winning its 12th game of the season.<br>The Leafs' next game comes Thursday night in San Jose against the Pacific Division-leading Sharks. Toronto's road record of 7-1-0 suggests they'll give the Sharks all they can handle, and given the way they played Wednesday, the Leafs showed no signs their road prowess would disappear.