Game one
Just before the game, both teams announced they would be without their starting goaltenders. Frederik Andersen sat as a result of a lower-body injury. As Jack Campbell is still on injured reserve, Michael Hutchinson started for Toronto. Jacob Markstrom, who was pulled in both of the last two games he played, was sidelined with an upper-body injury.
The Leafs looked slow from the start. When talking about it after the game, Toronto Head Coach Sheldon Keefe said they played like a team that was expecting things to go bad.
With Joe Thornton and Zach Hyman injured, Keefe loaded up his first line, with John Tavares joining Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
The Leafs were down 1–0 after 20 minutes. Early in the second period, Jason Spezza nearly converted on a 2-on-1 short-handed rush, but could not beat Calgary netminder David Rittich.
Spezza stopped on the shorthanded rush pic.twitter.com/cbNPjy4HxZ
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 23, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Ilya Mikheyev also missed two breakaway opportunities. The Flames scored their second on that same power play, with Matthew Tkachuk beating Andersen.
Matthew Tkachuk makes it 2-0 pic.twitter.com/OgmfD73NtN
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 23, 2021
Calgary scored once more in the third to secure the 3–0 win.
Matthews’ point streak was ended at 16 games, two games short of beating the franchise record.
Game two
William Nylander beat David Rittich with 1:28 left in the third period to tie the game 1–1 before scoring again early in overtime to win the game for the Leafs.
WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨
GAME OVER! LET’S GO! pic.twitter.com/K9YaO58oyT
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
This comes about a week after Nylander was benched during the Leafs’ 5–3 win over the Canadiens last Saturday.
“I know I’ve underperformed and I know I can do better,” Nylander said after the game. “I’ve got levels to get to where I want to be.”
Hutchinson stopped 21 shots in his second consecutive start, Andersen still out with injury.
Solid save by Hutchinson off the deflection pic.twitter.com/SzpAYkE6qe
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Game three
There were a number of roster moves made before the game. Alex Galchenyuk (recently acquired via a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes) was assigned to the Marlies. Galchenyuk, who has been a part of six teams in the last three years, has never played a game in the AHL.
Matthews sat out with injury. He has had repeated issues with a wrist injury since last season when he was forced to skip out on playing in the All Star Game to recuperate, and re-injured it on Wednesday.
Matthews might’ve jammed his wrist after getting pushed pic.twitter.com/pYBf1ofKjO
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 25, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Andersen remains day-to-day with his lower-body injury.
On a positive note, Campbell, Thornton and Jake Muzzin all returned to the lineup. Campbell had not played since Jan. 24, where he injured his leg against the Calgary Flames.
Coming into this game, the Oilers had won five straight and were sitting just below the Leafs in the standings. Nylander and Marner scored minutes apart in the first period to give the leafs a two-goal lead.
WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨
WHAT A SHOT! pic.twitter.com/SxicS6WaKC
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 28, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Spezza and Hyman added a goal apiece,
JASON SPEZZA 🚨
VINTAGE FAKE! pic.twitter.com/Cl1CNp0TEh
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 28, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Campbell made 30 saves for his fourth career NHL shutout.
The Leafs took the game 4–0
With the two wins this week, the Leafs have widened the gap in the standings, having played one game less than the second-place Oilers.
Edmonton and Toronto play twice more next week before the Leafs travel to face Vancouver in a two-game series.