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After such a strong offensive performance, the Toronto Maple Leafs could have scored twice as many goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The difference was that the Blue Jackets goalie contender, Jet Greaves, was hot in his NHL debut. Meanwhile, former Maple Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson was the Blue Jackets backup goalie last night. Eventually, shots on goal began to increase as Toronto’s first two lines stopped passing the puck and started into the net. The team took 50 of the season’s highest shots into the net, with Greaves stopping 46 of them . Jet Greaves, Columbus Blue Jackets The performance culminated in a 4-2 win over the Blue Jackets, which included setting season highs in shot attempts, shots on goal and expected goals. Zach Aston-Reese scored two goals, including his career-high 10th of the season. Alex Kerfoot also scored his second goal in five games and his 10th goal of the season. Auston Matthews took an impressive 11 shots on goal and scored a free net goal to recapture the team’s goal-scoring lead. Item One Joseph Woll Wins Fourth Win of NHL Season Joseph Woll was called from the minors when it was decided on Tuesday that Matt Murray would not be available for the game. Woll started and stopped 24 of the 26 shots in the game. It has now combined a record 4-1-0 and a savings percentage of .932. Related Dale Hawerchuk Trade Revisited Woll has been solid this season and given Murray’s head injury, he’ll likely be flying to Boston for Thursday’s game and could get more starts if Murray stays on the sidelines. It would be interesting to see team play away against Tampa Bay Lightning in the second and final game of season. Second Element Zach Aston-Reese Scores Two Goals, Reaches Career Peak in Goals Aston-Reese scored twice in the Maple Leafs’ win on Tuesday. While not normally a contributor to the offense, he’s been playing well and scoring for the last few weeks. Perhaps luckier is that team’s fourth streak is as strong as it has been since I’ve been following the team for past five seasons. Latest News and Highlights Aston-Reese has particularly good chemistry with teammate David Kampf, earning him a regular role in the last six of the Maple Leafs. He’s a physical player playing solid defensive play, last night’s Aston-Reese, Kampf and Sam Laferty’s fourth line were solid carried most of the game. Related Former Maple Leafs Goalkeeper Michael Hutchinson Where Is He Now? While Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe messed up fruit basket a bit with his other lines, he barely broke fourth line for final two-thirds of season. It was a smart move. Item Three Christmas Acciari Returns to Gaming Action Noel Acciari, who missed three games due to a neck injury, returned to the Maple Leafs roster on Tuesday, earning the same amount of icing time as Michael Bunting . Noel Acciari, Toronto Maple Leafs Acciari also recorded two strokes overnight – Jake McCabe led the team by six strokes. Expect Acciara to maintain his place as the depth center in the team’s last 6. On February 17, St. He has scored three goals in 17 games since arriving with Ryan O’Reilly of the Louis Blues. Item Four Ryan O’Reilly Needs One Final Check Speaking of O’Reilly, he didn’t play against Columbus on Tuesday but his return is imminent. According to rumors, he is expected to undergo another X-ray and checkup before being approved for the game. Related Ryan O’Reilly’s Season Means Nothing for the Maple Leafs So Far O’Reilly recorded three goals and two assists in eight games with the Maple Leafs before breaking a finger and undergoing surgery. Article Five Erik Gustafsson Returns From Time Away Erik Gustafsson rejoined the team on Tuesday after leaving the team for personal reasons. Erik Gustafsson, Toronto Maple Leafs Gustafsson has had a healthy scratch in his last eight games and has only recorded a single assist. He is expected to face the Boston Bruins on Thursday. However, this has not yet been confirmed. The Maple Leafs’ depth players had a huge impact on Tuesday’s win. Game and secondary scoring contributions bode well for the team post-season. Obviously, Maple Leafs fans expect the team’s stars to shine post-season, but it would be an added benefit if depth players stepped up to provide more offensive production. Related United States and Canada Women’s Olympic Hockey Competition Revisited Keefe praised the Kampf series with Kerfoot and Acciari. There was also a lot of positive to say about the strong game of the nominee Nick Abruzzese. Overall, the win showed how important four-line production can be towards the playoffs. You can tell from his comments that Keefe likes Aston-Reese to score. The coach stated that his blue-collar goals were totally accurate and he works hard around the net to create scoring chances
