Sandin’s first NHL goal boosts Maple Leafs past Predators
Rookie defenseman has assist, Andersen makes 34 saves for Toronto
via NHL.com
Rasmus Sandin scored his first NHL goal and had an assist for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-2 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Monday.
Frederik Andersen made 34 saves for the Maple Leafs (26-17-7), who won for the first time in three games (1-1-1).
It was the first game for each team since Jan. 18.
“It was a good response,” said Toronto forward Jason Spezza, who scored his second goal in the past seven games. “Coming out of a break can be difficult games. I thought it was a good match for our team, just coming out and getting a lead. I thought we controlled play for a lot of time. I think there’s still things that we can do better, but for the most part we did a lot of good things, and that’s why we got rewarded with a win.”
The Predators (22-19-7) have lost three of their past four games.
“In the second period, we just got away from it,” Nashville coach John Hynes said. “We just got away from the identity that we want to play with. The hardness that we need to play with to be able to win, managing the puck, consistency in the performances throughout the lineup, that was where the game got away from us.”
They said it
“If we manage the puck a little bit better, we have an even better result. I liked our [offensive] zone play. I thought we created lots and capitalized on some chances. It was a good first game back.” — Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin
“As the game goes on, you want to be able to play the players that are playing at a level that they can do it. We had him on a line match. We switched the line match because we didn’t like it. That’s just what happens in the game. With players, if they want to play more, they’ve got to play good.” — Predators coach John Hynes on playing center Ryan Johansen for 10:28
Need to know
Nylander scored 22 goals in 2016-17, his first full NHL season. … Nylander had an assist on Sandin’s goal and has seven points (four goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak. … Johansen’s 10:28 was the least ice time for the Predators.
What’s next
Maple Leafs: At the Dallas Stars on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, FS-SW, NHL.TV)
Predators: At the Washington Capitals on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET: NBCSN)
Rasmus Sandin's second period goal is the first of his NHL career. #LeafsForever
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 28, 2020
The @MapleLeafs have scored four or more goals in seven consecutive road games for the third time in franchise history (excluding shootout-deciding goals). The others:
7 GP from Oct. 27 – Nov. 18, 1981
7 GP from Oct. 5 – Nov. 2, 1983
#NHLStats pic.twitter.com/g0cqWiAwD5— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 28, 2020
Auston Matthews became the first @MapleLeafs player to score 35-plus goals through his first 50 games of a season since Dave Andreychuk (39 in 50 GP) and Wendel Clark (37 in 50 GP) in 1993-94. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/cBK1U2BreF
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 28, 2020