[brid autoplay=”true” video=”782620″ player=”23231″ title=”NHL%20Preview%20Toronto%20Maple%20Leafs%20vs.%20Montreal%20Canadiens” duration=”140″ description=”Sportsnaut’s own Erica Commisso breaks down the upcoming NHL matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.” uploaddate=”2021-05-14″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/782620_t_1621033295.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/782620.mp4″]
Alex Galchenyuk had a goal and two assists, Jack Campbell earned a shutout and the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 Tuesday night to take a 3-1 lead in a North Division first-round playoff series.
The Maple Leafs will look to clinch the best-of-seven series in Game 5 at Toronto on Thursday.
Campbell stopped 32 shots to record his first career playoff shutout. Jason Spezza added a goal and an assist for Toronto, and William Nylander and Joe Thornton each scored. Alexander Kerfoot logged three assists.
Carey Price made 24 saves for Montreal.
Price made big saves on Spezza and Mitchell Marner in the opening minutes of the game.
The Canadiens had two power plays in a goalless first period while the Maple Leafs had one.
Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher was hit on the hand by a shot during the first period. He eventually left for the dressing room with about one minute remaining in the frame. He returned and had a shot hit the goal post during the second period.
Nylander scored his fourth goal of the series at 1:27 of the second period on an 8-foot backhander. The goal completed a passing play with Kerfoot feeding Galchenyuk, who in turn slid a behind-the-back, no-look pass across the front of the goal to Nylander, who swept the puck past Price.
Spezza scored his second goal of the playoffs at 12:28 of the second. He chipped in a pass to the slot from Galchenyuk, who had carried the puck up the left wing.
Toronto took a 3-0 lead 2:28 later on a power play. Thornton, stationed at the side of the net, redirected Spezza’s pass for his first goal of the series. Ben Chiarot was off for crosschecking.
The Maple Leafs led 24-18 in shots on goal after two periods.
The Canadiens failed to take advantage of a power play when Thornton took a tripping penalty at 7:21 of the third period.
Galchenyuk, a former Canadien, scored into an empty net at 16:29 of the third period.
–Field Level Media