In Toronto, the Maple Leafs handed the Montreal Canadiens a 5-2 and kept them from moving up i their race for the last playoff spot in the North.
Auston Matthews picked up his 40th goal of the season.
“I think experience is a big thing, going into each game you have more confidence,” Matthews said. “I play with some really good players and have been fortunate to have really good teams in my five years here. Every year I just try to get better and better and push for more.”
Jack Campbell made 19 saves in the win.
“I didn’t really have a whole lot of action,” Campbell said. “The boys just carried the play and stuck to the game plan the whole 60 minutes. It’s just a lot of fun to be a part of this team. The group of guys we have, the character and the coaching staff, it really is just a great group and we’re really jelling.”
Alex Galchenyuk got the Leafs offense rolling with a first period strike.
John Tavares, Pierre Engvall and Mitchell Marner pushed the lead out to 4-0.
“It’s incredible, he makes it look so easy,” Tavares said. “It’s unreal to watch and it’s a testament to him and his work ethic. His skill set is exceptional, one of the best in the game. He should be celebrated and he deserves all that recognition. At this level, in this league, it’s extremely hard to score, so to do it as often as he does, as consistent as he is, it’s extremely impressive.”
Cole Caulfield and Artturi Lehkonen scored for Montreal to drop the deficit to two goals at 3-2.
“They jumped all over us,” the Canadiens’ Ben Chiarot said. “We were slow out of the gate and they came out pretty quick and we spotted them a couple of goals. It’s an uphill battle from there, and on a back-to-back situation, that’s not easy. That wasn’t Primeau’s fault, it’s our fault, we were flat in front of him and didn’t give him any help. Young goalie going in (21 years old), we have to be sharp early on and let him find his groove.”
Cayden Primeau got the start for Montreal but was given the hook after surrendering four goals and making 11 saves in the opening frame.
Jake Allen made 18 saves in a long mop up role.
“I talked to him in the dressing room quick, just me and him,” Allen said of Primeau. “It’s a bump in the road for him. I can tell how good a goalie he is and how good a kid he is. Once Carey Price‘s legacy goes, Cayden is going to be the guy here. You have to fail to succeed in this league, especially as a goalie. I’m sure he’s going to take it hard, as all young guys do, I would have done the same thing. But he’s going to move on and be ready to go for us, we’re going to need him again.”
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