GAME STORY: Maple Leafs 4, Oilers 0

EDMONTON, AB – William Nylander and Mitch Marner each recorded a goal and an assist while Jack Campbell turned aside all 30 shots he faced as the Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Oilers 4-0 on Saturday in their first of three consecutive matchups at Rogers Place.

Video: POST-RAW | Leon Draisaitl 02.27.21

FIRST BLOOD

With Kris Russell in the penalty box for holding, the Maple Leafs power play went to work as Marner got the puck in his usual spot on the right side, navigated around the net and set up Nylander, who managed to sneak a wrist shot through some traffic and into the small space underneath Mike Smith’s arm for his eighth of the season at 14:37 of the opening frame.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Just 1:13 after Nylander’s opening goal, Marner got to score one of his own on an impressive passing sequence that started way back in the defensive zone. Morgan Reilly made a lengthy clearing pass up to Joe Thornton, who found John Tavares streaking into the attacking zone, and the Toronto captain dropped it back to Marner, who scorched a wrister past Smith to make it 2-0.

SAVE OF THE GAME

Before the Maple Leafs were able to beat him, Smith kept the game scoreless midway through the first period with an outstanding diving stick stop on Alexander Barabanov, who cut hard to the net and was found on the doorstep with a perfect pass by Zach Bogosian. The Oilers netminder displayed the prowess that propelled him to a 32-save shutout on Thursday in Vancouver.

Video: POST-RAW | Caleb Jones 02.27.21

TURNING POINT

Toronto’s two quick goals in the opening frame were a bit of an anomaly in an otherwise even battle through the first half of the game, as the Oilers looked to chip away at the deficit. However, Jason Spezza’s fifth goal of the season at 11:15 of the second period provided the Maple Leafs with an insurance marker, as the veteran called his own number on a two-on-one rush with Jimmy Vesey.

TOP PERFORMER

Campbell was rock-solid between Toronto’s pipes, making 30 saves for his third career shutout and first since March 2019 when he played for the Los Angeles Kings. 

Video: POST-RAW | Dave Tippett 02.27.21

FACT CHECK

No Auston Matthews? No problem for Marner. According to Sportsnet Stats, Toronto’s leading scorer has now recorded four consecutive multi-point games when his usual centreman Matthews is not in the lineup. The right-winger is up to 10 goals and 22 assists on the season.

NEXT UP

Saturday’s game was the first of three in a row between the Oilers and Maple Leafs as they’ll get a break on Sunday before squaring off again on Monday, followed by the series finale on Wednesday. The Calgary Flames will visit Rogers Place next Saturday to continue Edmonton’s seven-game homestand.

PARTING WORDS

“They just won the battles,” said Leon Draisaitl, who played 17:19 and had three shots in the defeat. “There were a lot of little battles along the walls and around the boards and we couldn’t really come up with the pucks. It’s something that we’ll need to improve on.”

“We got beat,” said Head Coach Dave Tippett. “They played a strong game and we weren’t sharp enough to win… We had some looks, but ultimately we were chasing the game most of the game.”