Marcus Stroman got the better of Jeff Zatkoff for the third time in his two career starts against the Kings this season.
Despite downing the James and the Los Angeles Kings 6-2 on Saturday, the Toronto Maple Leafs still managed to find time to show off some of their team’s most tenacious moves.
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The main attraction of the evening was Nathan Beaulieu, Toronto’s new addition at defence, who posted a dominant stat line against the Los Angeles Kings.
Beaulieu recorded the primary assist on the Leafs’ first goal and, on the power play, took a shot from the point that found the back of the net to help Toronto increase its lead to 2-0.
Toronto led 3-0 after the first period. The return of Patrick Marleau was a big enough reward for Maple Leafs fans, and his addition certainly added to Toronto’s offensive firepower.
After Marleau’s pass set up Tavares for his second goal of the night to put Toronto up 4-0, Marleau’s former captain shook off a slow start to finish the night with two goals and three assists.
Evander Kane’s slashing penalty led to a speedy transition opportunity for Auston Matthews, who rifled in a game-winning slapshot past Zatkoff to extend Toronto’s lead to 5-0. Matthews’ feat was just one of six combined goals scored in the second period and three in the third.
Alec Marleau hit the post with a one-timer in the third period, and Matthews almost added another when a shot hit the post and bounced past Jonathan Quick, but the Kings defenceman was there to clear the puck off the goal line.
Frederik Andersen picked up the win and had an easy night in net, with zero goals against to zero goals against.
For the Kings, it’s quite the rough trip this week after being humiliated by the Montreal Canadiens, 5-1, in their second game and also given up 10 goals in their third contest against Boston.
Los Angeles’s only goal came in the third period when Alec Martinez redirected a shot from Martin Jones.
