Maple Leafs a confident bunch after topping defending champs in OT
TORONTO — Confidence was still running high moments after the Maple Leafs sealed an overtime victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions.
“We played about as good as we could tonight,” said defenceman Jake Gardiner, who scored the winner in Toronto’s 2-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins. “But it also shows we can play with anybody.”
The Leafs had dropped three straight — including the last two by shootout — entering the night and six of the previous seven games (1-3-3) despite outshooting and often outplaying the opposition. A 41-shot barrage against Mike Smith and the Arizona Coyotes ended in a 3-2 shootout defeat two days earlier.
A once fiery offence had cooled, Toronto scoring two or less in each of those six losses and while they managed only a pair on Marc-Andre Fleury, the Leafs outshot the Penguins 48-34 while finishing with a 58 per cent puck possession mark at even strength.