Montreal controlled the first two periods in shot attempts and scoring chances, although the high-danger chance count remained low and even throughout the contest. With a late second-period breakthrough followed by an early-third-period push, Toronto was able to secure their 11th victory in 14 games.
The final score was 4-2 Leafs, but this was certainly a tightly-contested one-goal game on the merits, and the Leafs padded their win with a late empty netter.
The Leafs will want to generate more sustained offensive pushes in the first 40 minutes in Saturday’s rematch rather than leave it as late on as they have in their last two wins while continuing to build on this kind of clean defensive effort.