Given how anxiety-inducing the news of more and more NHL players entering COVID-19 protocol was throughout the day, I was just looking forward to watching two skilled NHL teams go at it and be free of impending doom for a few hours.
Imagine my surprise when only one of those highly skilled teams showed up to play.
Even though the Leafs weren’t completely effective in the second period and some of the numbers throughout the game suggested otherwise, the Maple Leafs’ 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers was convincing in nearly every fashion: multipoint nights from Auston Matthews, Ondrej Kase and Morgan Rielly propelled the offence; Jack Campbell continued to look like a Vezina Trophy candidate; and the Leafs played responsible hockey through the neutral and defensive zone for long stretches.
And the Oilers, now mired in a six-game losing streak?
The Leafs haven’t exactly looked like world-beaters throughout December, but this was undoubtedly their most compelling performance of the month.
First star
Auston Matthews
The first star probably could’ve been given to Campbell as well, but Matthews looked dangerous with nearly every shift. He was dominant with the puck near the boards as he tried to make creative offensive plays with his linemates. His chemistry with Kase continues to improve.
