What a game for a saturday the 8th of october! I got the pleasure of listening to this entire game. Thanks am640.
- wins: 1
- losses: 0
- shootout wins: 0
- shootout losses: 0
- points: 4
Here’s the recap from NHL’s mobile site.
Kessel’s hat trick helps Leafs hold off Senators 6-5
Saturday, 10.08.2011 / 10:35 PM
TORONTO — Phil Kessel’s third goal of the game with 2:19 remaining negated Ottawa’s third-period comeback as the Toronto Maple Leafs held off the Senators 6-5 on Saturday night to win for the second time in as many tries this season.
Kessel scored twice as the Leafs took a 4-0 lead after two periods, and Toronto led 5-1 when Colton Orr scored 2:52 into the third period. But the Senators got a pair of goals from Daniel Alfredsson sandwiched around one by Jason Spezza to cut Toronto’s four-goal lead to just one with 4:16 remaining.
Kessel completed his hat trick with what proved to be the winning goal when rookie Stephane da Costa beat James Reimer with 1:56 remaining.
It was the second time in as many nights that the Senators rallied after digging themselves a huge hole. They trailed 5-0 early in the third period at Detroit on Friday before losing 5-3.
After a sluggish start, the Maple Leafs opened the scoring at 12:58 of the first period when Mikhail Grabovski converted a slick pass from Nikolai Kulemin for a power-play goal. The Leafs gained momentum as the period went on, and added to their lead at 18:51 when Joffrey Lupul fed Kessel on a 2-on-1 and Kessel beat Craig Anderson.
Leafs’ captain Dion Phaneuf leveled Da Costa with a thundering open ice body check early in the second period, eliciting chants of “Dion, Dion” from the Air Canada Centre crowd. Chris Neil tried to rally the Senators by pummeling Luke Schenn, but received 17 minutes in penalties for his efforts.
The Leafs quickly capitalized on the power play, going up 3-0 at 7:56 when Lupul deflected John-Michael Liles’ point shot past Anderson. Kessel made it 4-0 on a fine individual effort at 18:49.
Colin Greening ended Reimer’s bid for a second straight shutout at 1:42 of the third, but Orr made a triumphant return to the ice with his 11th career goal, scoring in his first game back since suffering a season-ending concussion in January.
The winless Senators head home to prepare for their home opener Tuesday against Minnesota, while the undefeated Maple Leafs are off for a week before hosting the Flames next Saturday night. They will spend three days at Canadian Forces Base Trenton for team building activities and on-ice practice.
