Three Takeaways in Maple Leafs’ 4-1 Win vs. Penguins

This was a nice win for the young Swedish goalie. After his giveaway that tied the New York Islanders game, it was good to see him solid in the net. Sadly, he could have had a shutout except for the odd Rakell goal. But anytime a goalie gives his team 25 saves on 26 shots, it’s a good game.

Takeaway Two: Mitch Marner Just Keeps on Rolling

The truth is that Mitch Marner deserves to be on a 16-game point-scoring streak. He’s working hard enough and he for sure is skilled enough. He pushed his point streak to 16 games with a goal and an assist in the game last night.

Even more impressive to me is that Marner seems to waste no time putting up points. Last night he only took 40 seconds to extend his point streak.

On his early first-period goal, the Penguins took a line change where they simply thought the puck was going down the ice. It didn’t. Instead, it was intercepted by Auston Matthews who sent a nifty pass to Marner for a clean breakaway. He just clearly faked the Penguins’ goalie Casey DeSmith and put the puck far side.

During the team’s last six games, Marner has had a point on every first goal his team has scored. That’s a quick start.

Takeaway Three: Michael Bunting Just Outworked Everyone to Set Up Auston Matthews

I probably should have chosen Auston Matthews as my third takeaway. Matthews had a goal and two assists for a three-point game. Those three points put him in double figures for goals (with 10) and give him 14 assists (for 24 points) in 23 games. He’s now a point-a-game player.

However, in my mind, the key to this win for the Maple Leafs was hard work. And the poster child for that hard work was Michael Bunting. Bunting corralled the puck in his own defensive zone and just protected it all the way down the ice, using every part of his body to do so. He was closely checked, but also just outworked everyone.

Finally, after taking it through center ice, Bunting was knocked down near the right half-wall. However, laying on the ice, he collected the puck with the shaft of his stick and sent it to Matthews who was all alone about 15 feet in front of the goalie. Matthews organized the puck and snapped it past DeSmith.

The work was all Buntings; and, thanks to Matthews’ skill and shot, Bunting got an assist. It was his second assist of the night.