The Toronto Maple Leafs aim to carry the momentum of a four-goal third period in a comeback win into Wednesday night, when they host the rising Utah Mammoth.
The Maple Leafs trailed the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 after two periods on Monday before erupting with four goals — two by William Nylander — to open a four-game homestand with a 4-3 victory.
“Played terrible for two periods,” said Nylander, who missed three of the previous four games with a lower-body injury. “It’s unacceptable. There’s nothing more to say. Our compete level was not there, losing every battle, losing every puck. It’s what it comes down to.”
Toronto coach Craig Berube said, “I don’t have an answer for that right now. The second period, they got the puck and did whatever they wanted with it, and we didn’t check anybody.
“We didn’t knock anybody off the puck, and when we did get it, we gave it back, and they just kept coming back down our throats. It’s not good enough.”
Despite the tough opening two periods Monday, the Maple Leafs have won two straight.
Utah started a four-game road trip on Tuesday with a 2-1 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres. The Mammoth had lost back-to-back games after winning seven straight.
“We learned a lot tonight,” said Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka, who stopped 17 shots at Buffalo. “It was a big battle for us. It wasn’t an easy game at all. We just need to keep building on it. … After two losses, we just needed to bounce back and just get another win, especially on the road.”
Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist for Utah, scoring the game-winner 47 seconds into overtime.
The Maple Leafs will get reinforcements on Wednesday. Scott Laughton, who sustained a foot injury after blocking a shot during a preseason game, is expected to make his season debut. Steven Lorentz, who sustained an upper-body injury Oct. 29 in a road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, also is likely to return.
“They bring this energy, they play a straightforward, simple game,” Berube said. “They do a lot of the dirty work for us out there. When it’s not going right, these guys can go change the momentum of a game. Our locker room really misses (Laughton). He’s a really good glue guy.”
Laughton and Lorentz worked on a line with Max Domi at practice Tuesday and also were paired as penalty killers.
They worked well together on a line during the preseason.
“I think we were pretty dominant together,” Lorentz said. “It’s been a long time coming, and it sucks when you get hurt right off the start of the season like he did. He’s a guy that brings energy. Our team has been missing that at times throughout the start of the season.”
Based on how they played at Buffalo, the Mammoth figure to be energized on Wednesday despite playing the second half of a back-to-back set.
“Heck of a game from everybody,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “Our four lines, our six (defensemen), our goalie were really good. I think there’s a lot of stuff we were talking about lately, our gap, our reloading, our poise with the puck, our battles down low, our possession in the O-zone, making good plays, going to the net. Really proud of the way the boys played.”
–Field Level Media
