After scoring his 150th career goal and his 400th career point on Tuesday, Weber tallied again in career game No. 700.
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Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis (4) dives for the puck as he chases it with Toronto Maple Leafs center Leo Komarov (47), of Estonia, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, November 12, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. Toronto blocked 21 shots in the first 40 minutes and allowed just 12 shots to get to Reimer. Toronto is 3-1-0 against Central Division teams. “We’ve played in these games before… there was not a lot of room out there”. “The pucks are contested a little bit more“.
He scored his fifth goal of the season in the third period, breaking a scoreless tie with a power-play goal, his second in as many games. Center Tyler Bozak skated free down the slot and converted a pass from center Shawn Matthias for the equalizer at 5:52.
“I yelled at him and he put the puck right on my stick”, Bozak said of Matthias, “and I just had to elevate the puck”. The Predators created a few unsafe chances during the first 1:49 of overtime but couldn’t solve Reimer.
Filip Forsberg, Ryan Ellis, Roman Josi, James Neal and Craig Smith all took shots against James Reimer and missed.
“It wasn’t the best game”, said Rinne, who finished with 22 saves. “These are the games that you want to make sure that you get the two points”.
Nashville took the lead early in the third.
It was Holland’s second goal in 10 games this season.
Coach Mike Babcock continues to be pleased with the effort, and sees the confidence growing within his club.
In the midst of its longest point streak since a six-game winning stretch December 6-16, Toronto has scored seven non-shootout goals in the last four but allowed the same number. The Maple Leafs actually had a couple of golden opportunities later in the period, but Rinne stoned left winger Joffrey Lupul both times, the second time on a rebound during a power play.NOTES: Toronto scratched Ds Frank Corrado and Martin Marincin and RW Brad Boyes….
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Though the Maple Leafs are among the NHL’s lowest-scoring teams at 2.06 goals per game, they’ve been highly competitive in the last four thanks to James Reimer’s 1.67 goals-against average over that span. Reimer could remain in net even though Jonathan Bernier appears recovered from a lower-body injury and had a 1.50 GAA while winning Toronto’s last two at home against Vancouver. The Predators signed fourth-round draft choice D Alexandre Carrier to a three-year, entry-league contract on Thursday. The 19-year-old defenseman has 15 points in 17 games for the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
