Toronto Maple Leafs end three game losing streak beating Minnesota Wild 4-1 - NHL Update
The Toronto Maple Leafs turned on the style as they ended a miserable three game losing streak with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Thursday, January 19th, 2012.
The Leafs return to winning ways could not have come in a better style as they dominated the proceedings. Star forward Joffrey Lupul picked up three assists as Leafs routed their opponents.
The win puts the Leafs in a great position to continue their drive for a playoff spot. Toronto is ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 23-18-5 record and 51 points behind just a single point from the Florida Panthers who occupy the final playoff spot.
"We've lost three games in a row and we needed a win tonight," said Lupul. "No matter who was scoring the goals, getting the points, we did what we had to do to win tonight."
Minnesota Wild who themselves were looking to break a three game losing streak succumbed to their sixth loss out of seven games and missed out on a great opportunity to move into the playoff spots.
The Wild are now 22-18-7 with 51 points and remain a point behind the Colorado Avalanche who are in eighth in the Western Conference.
The Wild were missing some of their best offensive leaders and the lack of cutting edge was evident throughout the match.
Mikko Koivu and Pierre-Marc Bouchard were sorely missed as the patched up Wild offensive line just about managed to avoid a shutout.
"I've been coaching for quite a while and been part of a lot of games I didn't like, and this one ranks right up there," said Wild coach Mike Yeo.
The Leafs did not wait around and took the game to the visitors with ferocity. Nazem Kadri put the Canadians up at 0:50 with a well taken shot to beat Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom after good work by Joffrey Lupul to create the opportunity.
Joey Crabb doubled the advantage five minutes later. Picking up the puck Crabb went on a mazy run towards the left hand side then cut inside wrong footing the Wild defensemen and just managed to put the puck beyond Backstrom.
The Wild were reeling but in the second half conjured some offensives of their own. Their efforts were not rewarded as Leafs goaltender Gustavsson was up to the task and maintained his sides two goal advantage.
Toronto then improved on their lead at 15:48 as Lupul got his second assist of the night providing the puck to Phil Kessel who made no mistake to beat Backstrom with a well taken goal on the power play.
The game was all but over, Mikhail Grabovski scored the Leafs fourth early in the third period to make it 4-0.
However, the Leafs could not keep a deserved shutout as Wild forward Nick Johnson got a consolation goal beating Gustavsson late in the third period.
The Leafs will now play Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, January 21st which is shaping up to become a mouth watering Canadian derby while the Wild will face the Dallas Stars at home.
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