The reason our team got zero out of it was because for the second straight game, they weren’t good enough defensively. Against a lesser team like Carolina, they got away with it. But not against what looks like a dangerous Leaf team who are poised to make their first postseason appearance since ’04. What makes them so tough is they’re ability to attack five-on-five. They were relentless and made life difficult for Henrik Lundqvist, who was fresh off being named one of Three Stars of the previous week. He gave up four goals on 28 shots. None were soft. It was the product of poor back check pressure and soft D. 

I’m not going to single out anyone. I’m getting a little sick of some our fans pinning everything on Mike Del Zotto. Granted, he had a miserable night and was on for three goals against including the critical Kessel decider. However, it’s unfair to beat up on him. For the most part, he’s stepped up his play since Marc Staal went down. Del Zotto’s partner Dan Girardi didn’t have a strong game either.  Neither did our forwards, who were fine offensively but didn’t get the job done in their end. They may have got sucked into Toronto’s run and gun style. But it’s still unacceptable how they hung Lundqvist out to dry. He’s bailed them out many nights and probably isn’t getting another night off. 

James van Riemsdyk and Ryan O’Byrne staked the Leafs to a two-goal lead. For some reason, our team didn’t match the Leafs’ intensity. They got off to a fast start before our team awoke halfway through. Rick Nash was a big reason why our team came back. He scored twice and dominated Toronto. Both goals were highlight reel. The first came when he took a Stepan pass in the neutral zone and drove to the net and let go of a shot that trickled past James Reimer. Video review showed that it may have gone off Nash’s skate with Stepan in the vicinity. 

Mats Zuccarello came close to tying it twice. The first time, he was stoned by Reimer on a Brad Richards feed. The second point blank on a deflection. Zuccarello has looked good since returning. He just hasn’t had any puck luck. They have to start going in soon. All season, Lundqvist has spoke about special teams. In this one, the Leafs took full advantage of a Ryan Callahan hold on Dion Phaneuf. They let Kessel get set and he fired from the left circle with Van Riemsdyk in front. It went through Lundqvist, who never tracked it. It might later get changed to JVR. It was a crusher that restored a two-goal lead for Toronto with 42 seconds left in the second period.

Despite that, I felt our team would come back. They were on the verge of tying it prior to Captain Cally’s untimely penalty. As well as the Leafs played offensively, their D was vulnerable. Nash notched his second less than three minutes into the third to cut the deficit to 3-2. Former Jacket teammate John Moore made a wise bank pass to Nash, trapping the Leafs. Nash then flew past and did the rest. With the referee in the process of calling a hook, he undressed Reimer for his club-leading 17th. Remarkable talent on display in his return home. Of course on his next couple of shifts, Toronto got away with grabbing him. That wasn’t called but a phantom Del Zotto high stick was.

The Leafs came awfully close to going ahead by two. With the penalty expiring, Stepan made a great defensive play to tie it. Forcing a Leaf into a turnover at the blueline, he led a two-on-one rush with Darroll Powe. The whole time, I was yelling ‘Shoot.’ When he did, the puck went top shelf for his 14th. An amazing individual effort from a much improved player. His emergence has been exciting. Imagine a home grown kid developing into a leader in the mold of Callahan with higher skill. 

Unfortunately, our excitement came too soon. On the very next shift, Toronto showed why they’re playoff bound. With our team scrambling around, Tyler Bozak passed for a cutting Kessel, who walked in and beat Lundqvist 39 seconds later. Del Zotto got killed by the Twitter masses because he was lost on it. However, Nash was the closest man to Kessel. He didn’t fill in with Girardi back. They got burned. 

Sometimes, that’s the difference between winning and losing. There were close calls on both ends afterwards. The Leafs hit a post and Nash just missed at the buzzer. Even if I don’t agree with John Tortorella going with six forwards with Lundqvist pulled, it’s too late to worry now. The Rangers get the same team in less than 48 hours. They must win.

3rd Star-Rick Nash, Rangers (2 goals, 7 shots and dominant- if only he took Kessel)

2nd Star-Tyler Bozak, Leafs (set up Kessel’s winner, 14-and-11 on draws, beat Stepan twice)

1st Star-Phil Kessel, Leafs (credited with 2 goals incl. GW plus helper)