Toronto Maple Leafs beat Philadelphia Flyers in exciting 11-round shootout
The Toronto Maple Leafs were able to sneak past the Philadelphia Flyers in an exciting match-up that went all the way to an 11th round in the shootout. The game finally ended when newly acquired
Leaf Colby Armstrong snapped one home to give his club a 3-2 win.
The Leafs decided to ice a similar line-up to that of the roster they used in Tuesday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators. The club called on the line of Nazem Kadri, Kris Versteeg and Armstrong to
play as the top unit. However, the Buds gave captain Dion Phaneuf and Tomas Kaberle the night off. In net Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer split time.
The Flyers iced a young line-up with the exceptions of veterans Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell, who carried the load for Philadelphia up front. In net the Flyers went with the tandem of Brian Boucher,
who is fighting for the starting role and youngster Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Flyers got the scoring started with a fluke goal from Marc-Andre Bourdon. Bourdon put a weak shot towards the net, which took several deflections before ending up behind Gustavsson, who was bothered
by Carter.
The Leafs were able to answer back in the second with a goal from Greg McKegg. McKegg and youngster Luca Caputi did good work around the net creating a scramble in front of Boucher. In the mayhem Caputi
was able to come away with the puck, putting it in front to an open McKegg who slotted it home.
However, the Flyers quickly responded with a marker from veteran Bill Guerin. Guerin worked his way behind the net and tossed the puck in front, where it went off Maple Leaf forward Christian Hanson and
then looped over Reimer.
The Leafs were able to bring the game back level with a goal by Armstrong in the third, sending the game to overtime.
Neither side managed to break through for a goal in the extra-frame, which sent the two squads to a shootout.
The shootout went on forever as both sides put forth 11 shooters before the game was finally decided. The Leafs got markers from youngster Kadri, Caputi and a beautiful goal by Hanson to keep the shootout
alive in the ninth round. The Flyers were helped with goals from Carter, Guerin and Joonas Lehtivouri. Nevertheless, Armstrong dealt the final blow with a terrific snap shot over the left shoulder of the youngster Bobrovsky.
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