Some games you just have to win. There are games on the schedule against opponents having difficult campaigns, and no matter how much they have have improved, that game needs to go in the win column.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had that opportunity on Saturday and blew it with a 4-2 loss the Canadiens in Montreal.
Jake Allen made 49 saves for the Canadiens in the win.
“These guys right now make me excited for every game to play,” Allen said. “Even though we’re out of the playoffs and we’re in last place, it doesn’t really matter right now. We’re playing for a lot more than that.”
Montreal moved to 18-37-10.
William Nylander tied the game, 2-2, early in the third period.
Paul Byron put the Habs up, 3-2 with two and half minutes left in the game.
Christian Dvorak iced the win with an empty net goal.
“In a game like this, against one of the best teams in the League, your goalie has to be your best player, and he was tonight,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said.
The Byron strike came on a 2-on-1 breakaway, in a game the Leafs had to win.
Auston Matthews scored his 47th of the season to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead.
“It’s great. It means a lot, but in the end it’s about winning,” Matthews said. “It’s about playing a long time this spring and having that success deep into the summer.”
Apparently does not mean enough to actually grind out a tough win.
Montreal replied with goals form David Savard and Cole Caufield for a 2-1 lead.
Toronto dropped to 40-19-5 and continue to sit in a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Erik Kallgren made 14 saves in the Toronto loss.
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