Bo Groulx’s legacy game carries Maple Leafs over Wild

Bo Groulx is making quite the impression with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 26-year-old journeyman was dressing in his fourth game as a Leaf and Groulx put on a show, enjoying a career night Sunday in a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Groulx scored twice in just over five minutes in the second period, and was all over the ice, including taking reps on the first penalty-killing unit. Groulx has scored three goals in four games and has certainly brought his entire toolbox up from the Toronto Marlies. He’s got nothing to lose so you can’t blame him for leaving it all out there each and every shift, and frankly, this team needs much more of this type of play down the stretch.

Groulx finished the night playing 17:03, scoring two goals, landing one hit, and winning 56 percent of his faceoffs. Jacob Quillan was also a standout for the Leafs in this one, using his speed and tenacity on the forecheck, and showing off his motor with a sustained work ethic.

On the flip side, this one was ugly in the first period. Not only did the Maple Leafs look tired to start the back end of a back-to-back, their defencemen were putting on a show for all the wrong reasons. Time after time in the first there were Leafs defencemen failing to make the ‘right’ play. Failed attempts at breakout passes, limited awareness to see outlets flying through the neutral zone, instead, dumping it in. It was as frustrating as we’ve ever seen from this group in the opening 20 minutes and yes, not having Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the lineup didn’t help, but that’s no excuse, it was a dismal effort to open the game.

Morgan Rielly scored his ninth goal of the season to open the scoring, and Anthony Stolarz made 36 saves in the win. University of Minnesota product Matthew Knies sealed the game with his empty netter with 36.2 seconds left in the contest. This was a big win based on where these two teams are in the standings, but one which could have serious implications on the NHL Draft Lottery odds when it’s all said and done.

The Maple Leafs make way out of the ongoing blizzard in Minnesota and head home for the next two. Toronto hosts the New York Islanders Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena, and we’ll wait to see what bright spots materialize against the Isles. Sunday night in Minny, it was Groulx’s turn in the spotlight.

PRESENTED BY STAKE