TORONTO – Maple Leafs ahead Steven Lorentz has an uncommon warm-up routine of leaping into the glass by the top boards earlier than every recreation.
He offered an in-game Lorentz Leap on Tuesday after scoring one of many prettiest targets of his five-year NHL profession.
Lorentz scored the go-ahead aim halfway by means of the second interval in Toronto’s 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Enviornment.
“It’s one I’ll bear in mind,” Lorentz mentioned of his fourth aim of the season. “It was fairly cool to try this and listen to the constructing get loud like that.”
Lorentz took a cross from Ryan Reaves, turned defenceman Scott Mayfield inside out and buried a wrister within the high nook earlier than leaping into the glass in celebration.
“It undoubtedly wasn’t the celly on my thoughts, however the boards have been simply sort of there and I believed I’d as effectively check them out yet another time,” he mentioned. “It was fairly cool. It felt good.”
David Kampf opened the scoring late within the first interval and John Tavares iced the win with an empty-netter. William Nylander had two assists.
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Joseph Woll made 30 saves as Toronto (23-13-2) moved right into a tie with the idle Florida Panthers for high spot within the Atlantic Division standings.
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Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews sat out a fifth straight recreation. He was positioned on injured reserve earlier within the day, a transfer retroactive to Dec. 20 that allowed Toronto to recall defenceman Marshall Rifai.
A workforce spokesman mentioned Matthews, who returned to follow Monday, had not skilled any setbacks along with his upper-body harm.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau tallied for the Islanders (14-17-7), who acquired 22 saves from Ilya Sorokin.
Defenceman Chris Tanev blocked a shot and guided the following breakout that led to Toronto’s first aim. Nylander drew two gamers behind the online earlier than feeding Kampf for his second aim of the season.
Tanev took a puck to the face at one level however returned a couple of shifts later after getting some repairs.
“He lays it on the road,” mentioned Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube. “I used to be anticipating him again ahead of later, I’ll let you know that. He’s a particular participant.”
Lorentz, who received a Stanley Cup final spring with the Florida Panthers, attended camp on knowledgeable tryout earlier than signing a one-year take care of the Leafs.
At six foot 4 and 216 kilos, the 28-year-old native of Kitchener, Ont., brings dimension and vitality to the fourth line. He has seven factors (4-3) and is averaging about 11 minutes of ice time over 38 video games this season.
His pre-game leaps in opposition to the boards have been a crowd favorite. Lorentz mentioned it will get his shoulders heat, gives a really feel for the glass and helps get him “within the zone.”
“I do know some folks assume it’s a little bit of a gimmick or one thing like that,” he mentioned. “But it surely helps me so I’m simply going to maintain doing it.”
Each groups had profitable coach’s challenges early within the second interval. New York acquired on the board at 11:59 when Pageau transformed a slick cross from Noah Dobson for his ninth aim of the season.
Lorentz restored Toronto’s lead simply 16 seconds later.
“Massive aim clearly and an excellent shot,” mentioned Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly. “He performs onerous and does all the correct issues. He performs inside construction, he’s bodily, he’s dedicated.
“You need guys like that in your workforce.”
Woll stopped Brock Nelson on a short-handed breakaway late within the third interval. Tavares scored with 34 seconds left for his nineteenth aim of the season.
The Islanders will host the Maple Leafs within the again finish of the home-and-home collection on Thursday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Dec. 31, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
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