Spezza scores. Hyman scores. Maple Leafs cling to top spot in the North

How important was the Maple Leafs’ 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday night?

A good example came after Zach Hyman scored the second goal, late in the second period. After his wraparound effort, Hyman skated to the bench for the customary glove tap with his teammates. Only this time, Wayne Simmonds almost leapt off the bench with a high-five.

That was the level of emotion after snapping a three-game losing skid and six losses in their previous seven contests.

“When I came around the net (on a wraparound), I wanted to get it high,” Hyman said. “My momentum carried me to our bench, and Wayne was there when I got there.”

Jason Spezza opened the scoring in the first period for the Leafs, who scored were fighting to stay atop the North Division heading into a four-day break.

They entered Saturday’s game tied with Edmonton for top spot, with Winnipeg just two points behind. The Oilers and Jets met in the late game Saturday, but Toronto’s win ensured they would retain at least a share of the division perch.

Spezza’s goal was his seventh of the season, and marked the first time during the 1-6-0 slide that the Leafs had scored first.

“Really important,” coach Sheldon Keefe said about opening the scoring. “It’s difficult to play from behind. We got a big goal to start the game.”

Keefe made something of an eye-opening move prior to the game, starting Jack Campbell in net with Michael Hutchinson backing up. No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen was given the night off. Keefe later said only that Andersen’s absence was the result of “something (soreness) he’s been dealing with.”

Campbell responded with a 31-save effort and has won all four of his starts this season, two by shutout.

Hyman’s goal was the best shift by any player up to that point in the game. He wound up with the puck behind the net after Morgan Reilly joined the rush, was tripped to the ice and took two defencemen with him as he slid hard into the end boards. Then he peeled around the net and fired a wrist shot into the top corner for a 2-0 lead.

Alex Galchenyuk picked up an assist, his first point as a Leaf.

“I had a deep angle there, but my stick was in the right place, so I took the shot and I was lucky it went in,” he said about Saturday’s goal.

Spezza also scored in Friday’s game against Calgary, marking the first time he’s scored in back-to-back games since November 2019.

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