Powers have been expected from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ second string trio of John Tavares, Ryan O’Reilly and Mitch Marner. The chain game opened against Buffalo. The trio scored a total of 13 power points.
of the Toronto Maple Leafs by John Tavares, by Ryan O’Reilly and Mitch Marner’s the formed trio has become the NHL’s most interesting second chain after three games.
The joke made up of three star players was put together last weekend. O’Reilly had just been transferred to a maple leaf jersey from the St. Louis Blues in a major player trade.
The first two matches together still left a lot to be desired, as the goal difference in the series was two goals on cold flat pitches. However, the trio had created 21 goal chances against the 15 goal chances given to the opposition.
– We are close to success. We’re about to get really up to speed, O’Reilly comment on Canadian Sportsnet (you will be transferred to another service) before facing the Buffalo Sabres.
– One game, then everything can be in place, Marner, the anchor of the chain, stated.
That one game came suddenly. The chain game clicked into place in Buffalo against the Sabres. The trio scored three goals in the first seven minutes, with O’Reilly scoring the first two just 37 seconds apart.
After the end of the match, the chain had forged a total of 13 power points and Buffalo’s Finnish keeper Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for exchange. O’Reilly collected a balance of 3+1, Marner 0+5 and Tavares 1+3.
You can see all the hits of the Toronto trio in the summary video at the main photo of the story.
The veteran’s new place to play
The successful outcome required one big change in Toronto’s lineup, the head coach From Sheldon Keefe.
John Tavares has played almost all the games of his NHL career as a center forward. The 32-year-old Canadian veteran, who has played more than 1,000 games in the NHL, is known for his skills in making plays from the center position. Most recently, he has played mainly as a winger in the Canadian national team jersey and more than ten years ago in Switzerland in SC Bern.
Keefe thought about it, but decided to move his team captain to left wing, giving new Maple Leafs player O’Reilly a spot in the middle of the chain.
– This is something we wanted to try at some point. And I love that we can now make that switch. And as I told John earlier, this is not a one-two punch. We’re going to keep this arrangement a little longer now and give it time to work, Keefe comment (you will switch to another service) assembling its chain.
The head coach and Tavares had already discussed a possible transfer to the wing during the previous Toronto seasons. Now the change was worth making, thanks to O’Reilly’s arrival. This, in turn, praised Tavares’ decision to move to the wing as “real leadership”.
Tavares, O’Reilly and Marner did everything in Buffalo. Named “Ontario Line” after the province of birth of the players in the chain, the trio already hit their first shot of the match.
– I have never been part of a trio as effective as this before. But, I can tell you it’s pretty fun, O’Reilly described the new “super chain” to Sportsnet.
Comedy and chills
When O’Reilly hit the helmet trick, he was joined by Mitch Marner for his single-game career assist record. Marner assisted on a total of five Toronto hits.
– It’s much harder to play with him than against him, O’Reilly stated, referring especially to his time in Buffalo, whose local rival is Toronto across the border.
The former Sabers player also received recognition from his former home crowd. When O’Reilly scored his last shot of the match into an empty net, Buffalo’s home ice was rained down by a heap of hats from other than the Toronto supporters who arrived.
– It gave me chills. This felt like a home game, in many ways, the scorer said.
The empty net was preceded by a bit of hockey comedy. O’Reilly charged toward an empty goal and a Buffalo defender thrown in front Rasmus Dahlin almost skidded him. However, the puck managed to leave the Canadian hockey player’s wrist towards the goal. of Buffalo Tyson Jost tried to roll the puck off the goal line, but put it into the net himself.