If the Toronto Maple Leafs manage third periods like they did at home on Saturday night, March 12, they're a lock for the postseason. The Leafs went into it down 3-2 to Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres and a loss, even in overtime, would have almost severed their Stanley Cup playoffs.
They came out of the period 4-3 winners, showing plenty of moxie, and are now but four points back of Buffalo and the New York Rangers for 8th place. The Sabres have a game in hand but after the win at least Toronto has hope and with 13 games remaining it could happen. Would nine wins do it?
Maple Leafs Start Slow, Fly in Period Two, Score in Period Three
The Leafs did not get the start they wanted as a wrist shot from young Buffalo defenceman, Mike Weber got past James Reimer and just like that the Sabre's first shot of the game was in and they were up 1-0. Clarke MacArthur's 20th - his captain Dion Phaneuf got him the puck - was a slapshot that evened things up.
The Leafs had a lot of jump in the second despite being outshot 20-12 and shortly after Ryan Miller stopped him on a red line in breakaway, Tyler Bozak got the puck again at the corner of the net from Phil Kessel and flipped it by a sprawling Miller and Leaf fans jumped to their feet.
But Buffalo tied it up when Jochen Hecht scored 54 seconds later and then took the lead on a questionable call that saw Mikhail Grabovski get sent to the box and Jordan Leopold score on the power play. Then the Leafs went to work in the third.
Leaf Comeback in Biggest Game of the Season
Two things that did it for the Leafs in the final frame was an ability to play without looking at the scoreboard and the heroics of Reimer, who made everyone forget about the Sabre's first shot. Grabovski and Kessel provided the scoring in the first half of the period then Reimer shut the door the rest of the way, making a total of 39 saves.
Naturally with as thin a hold on the Stanley Cup playoff race as Toronto has every game becomes the season's most important. Next up is Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Another win and it would be official - Toronto would be on another emotional run which saw them win so many for so long after the all-star break. Don't count the points, count the will and determination.
They have hope.
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