The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their road trip with a 4-3 OT win over Winnipeg, and it had that playoff feel. Trailing by two goals in the third, they didn’t panic. They chopped away, kept pushing and finally tied him up. Matthews found Domi as the OT winner in a win that felt completely deserved. After some shaky games with leads, this game sent a strong message.
Max Domi talked about how tough the road trip had really been
Domi was candid about the grind. “That was one of the toughest road trips I can remember,” he said. “Competitions every other day, long trips, every time we just had to fight. And we found a way to win.” When asked how the team found the energy to come back, he kept it simple: “It’s playoff hockey from now on. You just keep going and keep everyone involved.”
He had that too high praise for Matthews, who has been doing a lot of lugging lately. “He’s a beast,” Domi said. “One of the best players in the game, maybe the best. We’re lucky to have him. He’s like a brother to me.”
Matthews impacted the game by creating chaos in front of the net, keeping Winnipeg on edge and continually turning the play up the ice towards Connor Hellebuyck, the Jets’ world-class goaltender. If he’s engaged, the Maple Leafs’ ceiling will immediately go up.
Domi shared his connections to Moncton and Winnipeg
Off the ice, Domi reflected on his roots and the hockey communities he is connected to. Although he says he only spent a few weeks in Moncton growing up, he loves the city’s passion for the game. Winnipeg fans also brought the energy. “It’s always a pleasure to come here,” he says. “The crowd is loud, the energy is wild – these are the matches you remember.”
With five of a possible eight points on the trip, the Maple Leafs leave the road in decent form. In fact, they showed they could win games that got messy. Two nights earlier they had given up a two-goal lead only to lose in extra time.
The Maple Leafs changed the narrative of the Vegas game
The Jets’ game was different. They themselves recovered from two goals behind. If they can continue to play with the same intensity, the remainder of the season could even be a successful playoff chase. Who knows? There is a chance.
After such an evening it feels like they are ready.
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