Dominant Matthews notches three points as Maple Leafs even series

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We have a series.

And the Maple Leafs won one for their injured captain.

With John Tavares recovering at home after suffering a concussion and knee injury in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens, the Leafs rebounded in a large way on Saturday night.

Auston Matthews had a goal and two assists at Scotiabank Arena as the Leafs beat the Canadiens 5-1, tying the best-of-seven 1-1.

There’s no timeline for the return of Tavares, who was hurt when he was hit by Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot and then was accidentally slammed in the head by the knee of Corey Perry.

“I think (the win) means a lot, not only for the guys in the locker room, but for John himself,” Matthews said. “He’s such a big part of this team and he’s our leader.

“When something really scary and serious goes down like it did the other night, I think the response from the group was unbelievable. It was a big win.”
The team’s focus was the foundation for a strong effort by the Leafs, who scored two power-play goals in a game for the first time since March 3.

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Matthews led the way, with coach Sheldon Keefe calling his superstar centre’s performance “very complete.” As well as his three points and fine defensive play, Matthews won 16 of 20 faceoffs.

Canadiens goalie Carey Price, the difference in Game 1 with 35 saves, was not the same in Game 2, while Jack Campbell made 22 saves for Toronto.

The first-round series moves to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday.

The Leafs had lost their previous nine playoff games against the Canadiens. The most recent win had come on May 2, 1967 — the night they won their most recent Stanley Cup.

“We had a really engaged hockey team,” Keefe said, “all the way through our lineup.”

William Nylander scored on a power play in the third, ripping a shot into an open net after Matthews hit the post. Alex Kerfoot scored into an empty net after the Canadiens pulled Price with more than six minutes left in regulation time.

Toronto scored a pair of goals in the second period to take a 3-1 lead.
Keefe’s message to Matthews was simply to stick with it when Matthews had eight shots on goal in the opener and didn’t score.

After lighting up the North Division with 41 goals during the regular season, Matthews got his first of the post-season at 5:15 of the second to break a 1-1 tie.

He got the puck to Justin Holl, who placed a shot on Price. Holl took something off the shot, seeming to anticipate that a rebound would find its way directly to Matthews, who burst to the net. Sure enough, Price kicked the puck to Matthews and the puck instantly was behind the netminder.

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The goal was the winner, this after Matthews led the NHL with 12 game-winners during the regular season.

The Leafs then got a run of three power plays and scored on the third one. Defenceman Rasmus Sandin blasted a shot past Price on a one-timer off a feed from Mitch Marner at 13:20.

Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme challenged, arguing for goaltender interference. It was a desperate grasp, as the only Leaf who might have got in Price’s way was Joe Thornton, and that was with some minimal stick work.
The goal stood after a long review.

“It’s big,” Keefe said of the two power-play goals on six chances. “We can preach process as much as we want and show them the number of good looks. I was really pleased to see us get rewarded. Those guys needed that and they deserve it.”

With Tavares out, Keefe moved Nick Foligno into the middle on the second line and brought Alex Galchenyuk out of the press box to play on the left side on the line.

Kerfoot centred the third line, taking the place of a benched Riley Nash, and Pierre Engvall was inserted on the line.

After the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jesperi Kotkaniemi at 7:57 of the first period, Jason Spezza tied the game. After a Zach Bogosian forecheck, a quick shot by Spezza, who was in full stride coming off the bench, beat Price on the short side.

In the morning, Keefe said one good aspect of the playoffs is that a team has the opportunity to respond after a loss. With Tavares on their minds, the Leafs got full marks for their response.

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“(Friday) was a real good opportunity for us to regroup and push past that, especially after being put at ease that all things considered, John was doing well,” Keefe said. “Credit to John himself. His leadership of our team, despite his situation, didn’t stop. He took it upon himself to to send messages to the team to reassure the team.

“That really helped put our guys in the right head space. We miss him greatly on the ice, in the room.

“The guys refocused. You’re winning for him, you’re winning for all the guys don’t get the play, and you’re winning from the guy next to you in the room and on the bench.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

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