The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off one of their best performances of the season on Saturday night. They defeated the Anaheim Ducks 9-2 in what may have been their best game from start to finish. Today, they faced the St. Louis Blues in a holiday matinee. In the United States, it is Presidents Day, and in Ontario, it is Family Day, which means a peaceful day on the couch watching Maple Leafs hockey.
The Maple Leafs did not disappoint, either, despite a poor opening period. However, the rest of the game moved at a good speed. Toronto defeated the Blues 4-2, extending their winning streak to five games and keeping them in third place in the Atlantic Division. The Blues needed these two points just as much as the Maple Leafs did, since both are in the heart of things in their respective conferences.
Needless to say, the remaining 28-30 games, depending on how many each side has played, are important. With little over two weeks until the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, it can help upper management determine whether to acquire or sell. The Maple Leafs’ winning streak has arrived just in time to help them get off to a good start on their road trip.
Marshall Rifai’s NHL Debut
Congratulations to Marshall Rifai, who was called up and played in his NHL debut against the Blues. He played 11:33 of total ice time on his debut, which is a nice amount for an undrafted rookie who had to fight his way up to this level. Rifai attended Harvard University with fellow Toronto Marlies player Nick Abruzzese and played three seasons before being undrafted in the NHL draft.
Rifai signed a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs for an annual average value (AAV) of $775,000. With the Marlies, he plays in the top four and has demonstrated that he is not afraid to get rough. Last season, he had 118 penalty minutes, and within his first few shifts with the Maple Leafs, he got into a push with Blues forward Brayden Schenn. The Maple Leafs are expected to keep him on the trip before returning him to the AHL. However, the organization is awaiting the outcome of the Morgan Rielly appeal, which may see him return to the lineup against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday rather than the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
Bobby McMatthews?
Is Bobby McMann the Maple Leafs’ second-hottest player right now? He resembled Auston Matthews during his mini-scoring streak. He entered the first Blues game on February 13, 2024, not knowing if he would play, but due to a flu bug, he was drawn into the lineup. It turned out to be a night he’ll never forget; he scored a hat-trick and has since added five more goals for a total of eight in 29 appearances. This puts him on track for 20 goals in his first NHL season, which is astounding given his age.
If McMann can even score 15 goals this season, he should deserve a spot in the playoffs. Aside from goal scoring, he is a good forechecker and excellent cycler. Those are wonderful qualities to have for someone competing for a bottom-six spot. He may also provide the management team an opportunity to reassess players like as David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok and their responsibilities on the club. McMann’s emergence could not have come at a better moment.
Samsonov deserves praise.
Remember how Ilya Samsonov was a shell of himself before Christmas? He was unrecognizable; he’d lost all confidence and appeared to be on his way out of the NHL. He’s currently on a season-high four-game winning streak and has been lights out. It has been stated countless times, but the Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation has been intriguing, to say the least. Every time one goalie has faltered or been injured, another has stepped up to keep the team going. First, Samsonov to Joseph Woll, who went down, and Martin Jones was called up to take over the crease. We’re officially back with Samsonov, and after leaving the American Hockey League (AHL), he’s back and better than ever.
Samsonov’s save percentage (SV%) over the last four games is.903. He has conceded ten goals in that time, but most importantly, he has come through when his team needed him. This season, it appeared that Samsonov’s career was coming to an end, which disappointed many Leafs fans. A goalie they had grown to adore last season had reached rock bottom and appeared dejected. However, following a vacation to the AHL to concentrate on his mindset rather than play games, as well as a visit from his Russian parents, he returned looking better than ever. He has demonstrated that he is an NHL-caliber goaltender ready to lead his team to the playoffs.
The Maple Leafs have already won five in a row and hope to continue this trend throughout their current road trip. They will next face the Arizona Coyotes, with Matthews and Matthew Knies hoping to make an impression in front of their relatives and family.
