Maple Leafs Log Big Comeback on Hockey Day in Canada

[Maple Leafs 4, Senators 3]
[Pension Plan Puppets]

Everyone loves a good comeback story. The Maple Leafs trailed 3-1 in the third period. I had the thought that they were going to rally. That I should live bet them to come back and win. And then they woke up.

Auston Matthews netted his 20th goal of the 2017-2018 season on a little backhander, and cut the deficit.



Today was one of the best days of the year for the sport of hockey. It was Hockey Day in Canada presented by legendary Scotiabank.



Today is one of those days that I wish I were Canadian and grew up in the land up north as a kid loving this game since I was a baby. I wish I knew how to skate and got up early in the morning and played in a pond hockey game with snow covering the ground all around me. Then I could take my kids to a parade and then settle in to watch Sportsnet Canada, a channel I obviously don't even get here in the USA and watch hockey from morning until night.

Instead, I went to the gym and attended a neighborhood birthday party with my kids. Then I did Uber for the first time ever as a driver and made $35.

But on this day, Auston Matthews and the Leafs ended a four-game losing streak in a big way and represented.

Senators beat Maple Leafs on Hockey Night

[Senators 6, Maple Leafs 3]
[Pension Plan Puppets]

The Maple Leafs got downed by the Senators on Hockey Night in Canada, but the bigger story was the latest odds for teams to win the Stanley Cup; with Toronto being #1 on the list at 8/1.

I'd smash that prop bet for the Ducks. Were I a gambler, of course. pic.twitter.com/b21AbaABVM

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 20, 2017

Now for the highlight of the game.

Auston Matthews 7th goal of the year:


There were some good reads on the internet in regards to Matthews over on ESPN, and Down Goes Brown.

Spezza's Big Night Lifts Sens over Pens

Yeah, so Ottawa kind of ruled shit tonight. Jason Spezza scored 2 goals and tallied 2 assists, while Dany Heatley scored 2 of his own (see picture), as the Senators dumped the Penguins 4-1.

The win was the fourth straight for the streaking Senators. The rough night added up after 3 periods for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby shot again and again (9 SOG) but failed to score, while Dany Sabourin allowed 4 goals in his 21st career start. Crosby also talled a -2 for the night and spent 2 minutes in the penalty box.

Sabourin tallied 21 saves; but he'll need to step it up in the months to come as he now becomes Pittsburgh's most important player in the absence of cornerstone goaltender Marc Andre Fleury.

Some Pens fans like over at the Sweater Ted believe that this is going to be a long and brutal couple of months. I think the Penguins can actually become a more complete team without their former #1 overall pick goalie. I think they must play better 2 way hockey and avoid costly mistakes that young teams do such as looking ahead beyond the next game. For these young Penguins, the game they are playing that night is a one game season, and they need to scratch and claw for every second opportunity, as well as every zero they can hang each period.

[Box Score]

Thankful for a big win

It just might have been the type of win that is a season changer for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They had their backs up against it this Thanksgiving night; playing the 16-4 Ottawa Senators on the road. Down the entire game, the Penguins found themselves battling back from 2-0 and 5-3 deficits.

Instead, backup goalie Dany Sabourin came off the bench and stopped Ottawa's potent scorers in a shootout.

Sabourin denied four shooters in a row and Jarkko Ruutu scored on Pittsburgh's fifth shootout attempt to give the Penguins a 6-5 victory over the Senators.

Sidney Crosby tallied an assist and a +2 while being on the ice. This just very well might be the game that you can look back to on the Penguin's calendar and see that they turned everything around on this Thanksgiving 2007 night.

[Box Score]

• Give thanks. (The Sweater Ted)