*Photo from The Athletic*
What a way to end the experience in Sweden. Morgan Rielly had a goal and two assists, William Nylander had a goal and an assist, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Minnesota Wild with a 4-3 overtime victory on Sunday in Stockholm.
Sunday served as the last game of a 4 game, 4 day global series trip to Stockholm, with the Maple Leafs coming out on top. They won both games in Stockholm as a result, handing the Wild their 5th straight loss in the process. Nylander made himself the star of the show, just as he did in game one.
Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews said that "It's been a great week for us. To see all the Swedes being home and the support for everybody, but obviously Willie for who he is as a player, as a person and what he represents here in Sweden. It's been a great week and fun to see that."
Jon Merrill started the scoring 2:37 into the game, giving the Wild a 1-0 lead on his first goal of the season. On the power play at the 12:43 mark of the first period, Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs, tying the game 1-1. Matthew Knies scored his 5th goal of the season later in the period, making it 2-1 Toronto after one period.
Rielly scored 4:22 into the 3rd period, extending the Maple Leafs lead to 3-1 on his 3rd goal of the season. Jake Middleton cut into the deficit for the Wild, making it 3-2 with assists from Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno. Mats Zuccarello then tied the game to force overtime. That was when Nylander finished it, scoring on a breakaway to give Toronto the win.
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said that "It's a fitting end to the week for sure, for us, for Willie, for the fans, for the city, the country, all that kind of stuff. I think it is a terrific close to the event; terrific how it works. I would prefer, of course, that we didn't get to the overtime. If that is what we have to do to have a finish like that, we'll take it."
Getting the start for the Maple Leafs was Joseph Woll, who was credited with the win as his record improved to 6-4-0. Woll stopped 33 of the 36 shots he was tested with by the Wild, giving him a .917 save percentage.
For the Wild, Marc-Andre Fleury started the finale in Sweden, getting stuck with the OT loss as his record is now 3-4-2 on the season. Fleury turned aside 21 out of the 25 shots on goal the Maple Leafs had, recording an .840 save percentage.
Fleury said after the game that "I loved the way we battled back in the game, played in the second and third. Disappointed to come out on the short end. I'm proud of the way the guys battled, to grind and tie the game and get the point. Obviously, we want more, need more, but I think it is a step in the right direction."
Both teams have extended rest, next playing on Friday. The Maple Leafs are expected to start Ilya Samsonov as they play the Chicago Blackhawks. Fleury is the projected starter for the Wild against the Colorado Avalanche.
Comments
Post a Comment